Book— 

L39 



THE 

SECOND BURMESE WAR. 

A NARRATIVE OF THE 

OPERATIONS AT RANGOON, 

IN 1852. 

By WILLIAM F. B. LAURIE, 

LIEUT, j MADRAS ARTILLERY, 
AUTHOB OF " ORISSA AND THE TEMPLE OF JAGANNATH," ETC. 



WITH ILLUSTRATIONS, 
BY OFFICEES OF THE FORCE SERVING IN BUEMAH. 



LONDON: 
SMITH, ELDER & CO., 65, CORNHILL. 

BOMBAY.: SMITH, TAYLOR & CO. 
1853. 



The author of this work reserves the right of authorizing a trans- 
lation of it. 



London : 

Printed by Stewart and Murray, 
Old Bailey. 

% t> 



PEEF ACE. 



The Author presents this work to the public with 
less diffidence than he laboured under on his first 
appearance in public. After the publication of 
" Orissa," he was cheered and encouraged by the 
Press and many valuable friends, to persevere in his 
literary pursuits. Another opportunity having pre- 
sented itself, in a remote land, he has lost no time in 
taking advantage of it ; and he now ventures to lay 
the result of his labours before the reading world. 

One of the principal objects of the following pages 
is to give the reader as much information regarding 
Burmah, and take from him as little time, as possible. 
Wherever it is a soldier's lot to roam, the pleasant 
duty may be frequently performed of attempting to 
gather and afterwards to diffuse knowledge. It is a 
duty which our age demands of every man who 
thinks he has a sufficiency of capacity. 

Apart from the extreme probability of the cause 



iv 



PREFACE. 



of civilization being advanced, in a distant and com- 
paratively unknown land, by the Second Burmese 
War, which should make the subject one of general 
interest, there must be a vast number of readers at 
home and in India who have friends and relatives in 
Burmah. This is the grand key to the interest of 
Englishmen in the war. The possession of Rangoon 
may be said to have put nine-tenths of the Burmese 
empire at our disposal, The conquest of the re- 
mainder of the country may ensue, and other pens 
will probably describe the course of events. 

But, on account of the liberal encouragement 
bestowed on the present undertaking by the Officers 
of the Force at Rangoon, and others, the Author 
may be disposed, if all goes well, to write another 
volume. 

Many thanks are due to the military artists, 
Lieut. Blair, of the Madras Artillery, and Lieut. 
Ford, of the Madras Sappers, for the excellent and 
truthful illustrations they have furnished for this 
work. 

In the Appendix will be found some useful and 
interesting information, including extracts from 
accounts of the first Burmese war. 

W. F. B. L. 



Rangoon, August 10, 1852, 



CONTENTS. 



Page 

CHAPTER I. 

Introductory Sketch 1 

CHAPTER n. 
The Burmese provoke a Second War . . .19 

CHAPTER in. 
Sayings and Doings at Madras .... 37 

CHAPTER IV. 
The Voyage to Rangoon 49 

CHAPTER V. 
Naval Operations before Rangoon and Dalla . 61 

CHAPTER VI. 

The Landing and Advance — The White House 

Stockade 68 



vi 



CONTENTS. 



Page 

CHAPTER Vn. 
The Grand Advance on the Shoe Dagoon Pagoda 83 

CHAPTER VIII. 
Forward — Among the Temples ! . . . .108 

CHAPTER IX. 
Lights and Shadows 115 

CHAPTER X. 
Gaudama 129 

CHAPTER XI. 
Small and Great Events 140 

CHAPTER XH. 
Capture of Bassein — Burmese Attack on Martaban 155 

CHAPTER XIII. 
Pegu — Prome — The Grand Question . . .177 



Supplementary Notes 209 



Appendix . . . . . . . . .221 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



To Face 

Heavy Howitzer Battery on the 14th April Title 

Sketch Map op Burmah and Adjacent Countries, p. 1 

Easter Sunday on the Rangoon River . . .61 

Sketch Plan of Rangoon 69 

Sections of the Stockade and Defences round the 

Great Pagoda 92 

Sketch Plan of Bassein 155 



LIST OF SUBSCKIBEES AT KANGOON. 



No. of 
Copies, 

The Most Noble Marquis of Dalhousie, Governor- 
General of India . 5 

C. Allen, Esq., Officiating Secretary to the Govern- 
ment of India 2 

Major Banks, Officiating Military Secretary . . 3 

General Godwin, C.B., Commanding the Army in 

Burmah 6 

Agg, Lieut., H. M.'s 51st 1 

Allan, Captain, Assist. Quartermaster- General . . 2 

Anderson, Dr 1 

Anderson, Lieut., H. M.'s 51st 1 

Anstruther, Lieut. -Colonel, C.B. . . . . 1 
Apthorp, Lieut. -Colonel, K. S. F., Commanding 35th 

M. N. I 1 

Ashe, Lieut. St. G., B. A 1 

Back, Major J., Madras Artillery .... 4 

Baillie, Lieut 1 

Becher, Lieut, and Adjutant 1 

Bentfleur, Dr. 1 

Blagrave, Lieut., Madras Engineers . . . 1 

Blair, Lieut., Madras Artillery ..... 1 



X SUBSCRIBERS AT RANGOON. 

No. of 
Copies. 

Book Club of 67th B. N. I 1 

Boulderson, Major, Deputy Judge Advocate General 2 

Brander, Lieut. . . 1 

Bridge, Lieut. L., Madras Artillery .... 1 

Brown, Lieut., 1st Madras Fusiliers .... 1 

Brown, Lieut. Percival .1 

Burlton, Ensign 1 

Burn, Lieut. J 1 

Burney, Captain 2 

Cadell, Lieut., Bengal Artillery . . . . . 1 

Cahill, Lieut 1 

Campbell, Lieut., Bengal Engineers .... 1 

Carter, Lieut 2 

Chads, Captain, A. D. C 2 

Chisholm, Ensign 1 

Chitty, Major, 40th B. N. I. . . . . . 1 

Christison, Dr 1 

Cleeve, Lieut, and Adjutant 1 

Cooke, Captain, Madras Artillery .... 1 

Cotton, Major, 67th B. 1ST. 1 1 

Cox, Dr 1 

Craster, Lieut., Bengal Engineers .... 1 

Crawford, Dr. 1 

Daniell, Lieut 2 

Darroch, Captain, H. M.'s 51st 1 

Davidson, Dr 2 

Dennison, Lieut. G., Madras Engineers ... 1 

Dickinson, Dr 4 

D'Oyley, Captain, A. D. C 2 

Elliott, Brigadier, K.H 1 

Errington, Major, Commanding H. M.'s 5 1st K. O. L. I. 1 

Fayres, Dr. . 1 

Ferris, Captain, 12th B. N. 1 1 

Foord, Brigadier H. S., Artillery .... 5 



SUBSCRIBERS AT RANGOON. XI 

No. of 
Copies. 

Ford, Lieut. B., 12th M. N. 1 1 

Forrest, Captain 1 

Foulis, Captain, M. H. A. . . . • . . . 1 

Fraser, Major, Bengal Engineers .... 1 

Gardner, Capt. E. C 1 

Glover, Lieut. R 2 

Haines, Lieut 1 

Harrison, Lieut, and Adjutant, Madras Artillery . 2 

Hitchins, Lieut., Madras Artillery .... 1 

Kennedy, Lieut., H. M.'s 51st 1 

Latter, Captain, Interpreter to General Godwin . . 5 

Lewes, Lieut., Bengal Artillery 1 

Lloyd, Lieut., Madras Artillery .... 2 

Mackay, Dr. 1 

McCosh, Dr. 1 

Mackintosh, Lieut., 52nd M. K 1 1 

Madden, Lieut 1 

Maisey, Lieut., 67th B. N. I 1 

Mallock, Captain, Bengal Artillery .... 2 

Manderson, Lieut., Bengal Artillery . . . . 1 

Manners, Captain 2 

Marston, Lieut 1 

Mayhew, Major, Adjutant-General .... 2 

Medhurst, Lieut., H. M.'s 51st 1 

Mein, Captain, M. H. A 1 

Minchin, Lieut. 1 

Mitford, Ensign . 1 

Morley, Ensign A 1 

O'Callaghan, Lieut 1 

Onslow, Lieut. G. W., Madras Artillery ... 1 

Percival, Lieut. J., Bengal Artillery .... 1 

Pilmer, Lieut 1 

Power, Ensign 1 



xii 



SUBSCRIBERS AT RANGOON. 



No. of 
Copies. 

Kanken, Captain . . . . . . 1 

Reid, Major, Bengal Artillery . . , . . . 1 

Rice, Captain ' . 2 

Robertson, Captain, Bengal Artillery and CO.. . 2 

Robertson, Lieut., Madras Artillery .... 1 

Rosario, Mr. D., Madras Commissariat ... 1 

Rundall, Captain, Madras Engineers .... 1 

Sandes, Ensign, 9th M. N. 1 1 

Sargent, Lieut 1 

Scott, Captain, Artillery, B. M 2 

Shakespear, Lieut., 9th M. N. 1 1 

Singleton, Captain 2 

Simpson, Captain R. S 1 

Smith, Dr. Colvin . 2 

Smith, Lieut. J. F 1 

Sturt, Lieut. -Colonel, Commanding 67th B. N. I. . 1 

Tweedie, Captain 1 

Vizard, Lieut 1 

Voyle, Captain, D. C. O. . . . . . 1 

Way, Ensign ........ 1 

Willoughby, Lieut., Bengal Artillery ... 1 



THE 



SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



CHAP TEE I. 

IXTEODUCTOET SKETCH. 

As early as the middle of the sixteenth century 
the Burmese had conquered the inhabitants of 
Pegu, their former masters, and had established a 
strong independence. This brave and warlike na- 
tion speedily assumed a high rank in the East. The 
Burmese accession of power and territory naturally 
produced a desire for increased traffic: and, as 
regards the British, about the middle of the seven- 
teenth century, not many years after the surgeon, 
Boughton, had done his country service by obtain- 
ing for the English nation permission to traffic, free 
of duty, in Bengal, our trade with Burinah flou- 
rished to a considerable extent. Grain, oil, timber, 

B 



2 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



ivory, and other valuable commodities, were not to 
be neglected in the early fervour of commercial 
speculation. 

The fertile delta of that magnificent river, the 
Irrawaddy, was visited by our countrymen under 
great disadvantages. The European barbarians — for 
the offensive term was used in the same sense by 
Burmese and Chinese — dared not sail up the Ran- 
goon, or any other of Burmah's noble waters, with- 
out acknowledging the supreme authority of the 
lord of the white and all other elephants, whose 
trunks ee put a girdle round about the earth," while 
under the shade of their master's golden umbrella, 
the spheres steadily and gracefully reposed. But 
our merchants too frequently made respect for 
local authorities a secondary consideration — which, 
perhaps, first inclined the higher order of Burmese 
to look upon us in no very favourable light. Far 
different was the conduct of the early servants of 
the East India Company. These functionaries, we 
are told, knew well how to humour the Burmese 
national vanity ; and even governors of Fort St. 
George addressed the " Golden Feet" in terms of 
great humility. An old letter has recently been 
disinterred, filled with what the writers in the 
Spectator, had the gorgeous epistle come in their 
way, might have denounced as a brilliant example 
of an effort to be ridiculous for a political purpose. 
It is impossible to mistake the " studied ornaments 



INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. 



3 



«of style" * in a letter from Nathaniel Higginson, 
Esq., &c., Governor of Fort St. George, to the King 
«af Ava, dated the 10th Sept. 169S. 

" To his imperial Majesty, who blesseth the noble 
•city of Ava with his Presence, Emperour of Em- 
perours, and excelling the Kings of the East and of 
the West in glory and honour, the clear firmament of 
Virtue, the fountain of Justice, the perfection of 
Wisdom, the Lord of Charity, and Protector of the 
Distressed ; the first mover in the Sphere of Great- 
ness, President in Council, Victorious in War ; who 
feareth none, and is feared by alls Center of the 
Treasures of the Earth, and of the Sea, Lord Pro- 
prietor of Gold and Silver, Rubys, Amber, and all 
precious Jewells favoured by Heaven, and honoured 
by Men, whose brightness shines through the World 5 
as the light of the Sun, and whose great name will 

be preserved in perpetual memory 

, . . Your Majesty has been pleased to grant 
your especial favours to the Honourable English 
Company, whose servant I am ; and now send to 
present before the footstool of your Throne a few 
toys, as an acknowledgment of your Majesty's good- 
ness, which I beg your Majesty to accept; and to 
vouchsafe an Audience to my Servants, and a gra- 
cious Answer to my Petition." Let us now hear the 
object of the petition, one of curious interest at the 
present time : — " I humbly pray your Majesty's foun- 
* Spectator, Essay on " Metaphors." 



4 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



tain of goodness to continue your wonted favours to 
the Right Honourable English Company, and to per- 
mit our Factors to buy and sell, in such Commo- 
ditys, and under such Priviledges, as your Royal 
bounty shall please to grant; and allow us such 
conveniencys, as are necessary for the repair of 
Shipps, whereby I shall be encouraged to send my 
Shipps yearly to your Majesty's Port, having Orders 
from the Honourable Company, to send Shipps 
and Factors into all Parts of India, when their Ser- 
vice requires it." * 

And now, before inviting the reader's attention to 
a slight historical retrospect, let us ask him to turn 
to the map of Asia, and mark how the country of 
Arracan and the province of Chittagong are situated 
relatively to Calcutta, and the countries of Ava and 
Pegu. 

Every one knows that the Portuguese were the 
first regular European traders in India, round the 
Cape of Good Hope. 

Many of these adventurers, about the year 1600, 

* " We shall look with additional interest for the Burmese 
Bine Book, that we may have an opportunity of comparing 
the humble, cringing, obsequious memorial presented by the 
Agent of the Governor, on his knees, to the Lord of the White 
Elephant, with the cold and imperious missive of the present 
Governor - General. These two letters would of themselves 
form no incorrect index of the difference between the Com- 
pany Bahadoor, as a pedlar, and as an emperor." — Friend of 
India, Feb. 26, 1852. 



INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. 



5 



had settled on the coast of Chittagong and Arraean. 
Ten years after their arrival, the Portuguese and 
Arracanese, acting in concert against the Subahdar 
of Bengal, agreed to invade his Subah by land and 
by water. The limited forces went boldly to the 
attack ; but the invaders were entirely defeated. 
The perfidious commander persuaded the Governor 
of the Portuguese settlements in India, who resided 
at Goa, to equip a large fleet, and upon its arrival 
on the coast, Gonzales joined the admiral in attack- 
ing the city of Arraean. They were repulsed with 
great loss, reckoning their naval leader among the 
killed, while the captain escaped to the island of 
Sundeep, defeated, disgraced, and ruined. It is re- 
marked by a competent authority, that the attempt 
of the Arracanese to revenge themselves against the 
inhabitants of Sundeep and all the neighbouring 
coasts, with succeeding inroads of a similar nature, 
created the Soonderbuns,* which region once flou- 
rished as the abode of wealthy and industrious 
men. 

We next hear that the Assamese, occupying a 
fertile country to the north of Ava, were repulsed, 
and the Arracanese driven off by the occupants of 
Sundeep, to secure the peace and prosperity of 
Bengal. It is curious to compare the progress of 
an expedition set on foot by Meer Joomla, the Su- 



* History of Bengal, by Marshman, p. 39, 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR.. 



bahdar, in the year 1661, against Assam, with the 
British martial adventures during the first Burmese 
war. Having crossed the Brahmapootra, with his 
stores and provisions, at Hungamutt y, Meer Joomla.,. 
forming a road as he went,* marched his army by 
land. The march was tedious, seldom exceeding 
one or two miles a day ; the army was harassed by 
the enemy. 

Meer Joomla shared every privation with the 
troops. At length, coming to conclusions, the Mogul 
army struck terror into the hearts of the Assamese ► 
Their Rajah fled into the mountains^ and many of 
the chiefs swore allegiance to the conquerors. Meer 
Joomla, in the plenitude of his triumph, contem- 
plated planting the Mahomedan flag on the walls 
of Pekin, But reverses now fell upon the Mussul- 
man. The valley of the Brahmapootra, from the 
violence of the rains which set in, became one vast 
sheet of water. The cavalry were rendered useless 
by want of forage, and the enemy cut off the pro- 
visions of the invaders. At length, dire pestilence 
ravaged the camp; but with the change of season 
the land dried, disease disappeared, the Moguls re- 
gained health and courage, and resuming the offen- 
sive, forced the Rajah to solicit peace. Meer Joomla 

* This system of making war in a wild country was nrach in 
favour with the late Duke of Wellington, and he ascribed Sir 
Harry Smith's failure at the Cape of Good Hope entirely to. 
his neglect of so salutary a precaution. 



INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. 



7 



was happy to grant this, for he was suffering from 
disease brought on by exposure. 

A large sum of money was paid to the Moguls, 
but yet was Assam unconquered. 

Burmese supremacy over the once independent 
kingdom of Pegu continued till about the middle of 
the eighteenth century. The Peguese, however, 
having obtained assistance from the Dutch and Por- 
tuguese, at length took up arms against their oppres- 
sors, gained many victories, reduced the far-famed 
capital, Ava, and took prisoner Dweepdee, the last 
of a long line of Burmese kings. 

But the fallen people were naturally too brave 
and energetic to remain long in a state of vassalage. 
The history of European countries present us with 
more than one instance of a nation long prostrate 
throwing off a foreign yoke, through the powerful 
and seemingly magical agency of one man, and such 
a fortune Burmah was destined to realize. About 
the year 1753 Alompra arose. He was a man of 
humble birth, but through the exercise of an indom- 
itable will acquired the possession of a fort in the 
neighbourhood of the capital. At first, he carried 
on a sort of guerilla warfare against his enemies the 
Peguese, and his forces speedily increasing, he sud- 
denly attacked and took Ava. Alompra afterwards 
invaded Pegu, became master of its capital, extin- 
guished the Pegu or Talain dynasty, and founded 
the great empire which has existed to this day. 



8 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



During the war of conquest against the Peguese, 
we find the French and English traders playing con- 
spicuous parts. M. Bourno, beyond the Ganges, 
appears to have been as zealous in his way as was 
the great Dupleix when in his glory at Chanderna- 
gore or Pondicherry. The former, no doubt, had an 
eye to the acquisition on the part of France of the 
capitals of Ava and Pegu, while the latter plodded 
over his favourite scheme of reducing Madras and 
Calcutta to their original condition of fishing- 
towns. The Frenchman intrigued with both par- 
ties; the Englishman, Mr. Brooke,* declared for 
Alompra. 

The Burmese leader was a match for this double 
dealing, and when an opportunity offered, he ordered 
Bourno, and all French officers in concert with him, 
to be slain. And thus, while French power in India 
was tottering, and when the " heaven- born general" 
had already advanced some distance on the path 
to fame, French power and influence in Burmah 
fell. 

Alompra appears to have entertained considerable 
respect for the English character, notwithstanding 
that the conduct of some of Brooke's countrymen 
was highly discreditable, and it is difficult to believe 
that the great Burmese leader participated in the 
massacre of the English at Negrais, on the 16th of 

* Resident at Eegrais, then the Company's chief timber 
station, 



INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. 



9 



October, 1759. This tragedy seems to have been 
brought about through a combination of French 
treachery and jealousy. The massacre was con- 
trived by an Armenian named Gregory, who, 
jealous of the growing influence of the English, 
found a ready agent in a young Frenchman named 
Lavine. This Lavine had been left by his treacher- 
ous friend, Bourno, as a hostage, during one of the 
pretended negotiations with Alompra. 

Lavine and Gregory projected the extermination 
of the English in Burmah. At an entertainment 
given by one Southby, the successor of Brooke, a 
Portuguese interpreter, well-known to Lavine, was 
present as a guest. At a signal given during the 
evening, the room was filled with armed men. 
Southby and his English friends were instantly 
murdered, and soon after all the Indian servants 
of the factory, upwards of one hundred in number,, 
shared a similar fate. The guns of the fort were 
turned on the British ships by Lavine, who of 
course gloried in having performed the chief part 
in a treacherous and cowardly act, while he beheld 
our vessels steering for Bengal. Happily in the 
latter part of our Eastern possessions events were 
occurring of a cheerful character. 

Since the commencement of 1757 Admiral Watson 
and Clive had regained Calcutta, Chandernagore 
had been taken from the French, Plassey had been 
won, and in the same year as the above massacre^ 



10 



THE SECOND BURMESE "WAR. 



Clive wrote his famous note previous to the entire 
defeat of the Dutch at Chinsurah : — 

"Dear Forde, — Fight them immediately; I 
will send you the Order in Council to-morrow." # 

It was not long after Clive had fixed the destiny 
of India, that the famous Alompra died. One of 
his last actions was to invade Siam, a great valley 
at the head of a wide gulf, shut in by two ranges 
of mountains. Death arrested the sword of the 
conqueror just as he had commenced the siege of 
the capital. It was left for future adventurers to 
possess the rich plain of Siam. The inhabitants of 
this country, unlike the Burmese, are indolent and 
wanting in courage. It was, therefore, in their des- 
tiny to become the prey of the valiant and enter- 
prising. 

For many years after the affair at Negrais, Eng- 
lish traders confined their operations to Rangoon, 
e( where traffic with the natives was comparatively 
uninterrupted, except when the ships were impressed 
by the Burmese to be employed as transports during 
successive Pegu rebellions." Shemburen, who may 
be said to have succeeded Alompra, crushed one of 
these serious revolts ; he further added to the glory 

* Clive received the colonel's letter while he was playing at 
cards. Without quitting the table he wrote the reply in 
pencil. — History. 



INTEODTTCTOKY SKETCH. 



11 



of the empire by defeating a large army of Chinese ; 
but failed in an attempt to possess the territory of 
Siam, excepting that part which is at present 
styled the Tennasserim Provinces, including Mergui. 
Shemburen's brother afterwards succeeded in an- 
nexing the province of Arracan, reaching about five 
hundred miles along the eastern coast of the Bay 
of Bengal to the Burmese empire, which now em- 
braced Ava, Arracan, Pegu, a portion of Siam, and 
various minor territories bordering on the British 
possessions. The town and district of Chittagong 
had been finally lost to the Arracanese in 1666, and 
annexed to the Subah of Bengal. 

The Burmese and British territories now coming 
into contact, a series of misunderstandings com- 
menced ; the seeds of future war were sown. At 
the conclusion of a dispute concerning some re- 
fugees from Arracan, who had, about the year 1794, 
found their way into the British territory, Colonel 
Symes was sent by the Bengal government on a 
mission to the court of Ava. His object was to 
establish te amicable relations between the two 
powers, and especially to procure for British traders 
immunity from the oppression and extortion to which 
they were constantly exposed in their visits to Bur- 
mese ports." 

By the treaty thus concluded, this oppression and 
extortion was lessened; but only for a short time. 
Some years after the mission, about 1811, a serious 



12 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



rebellion having broken out in Arracan, the king of 
Ava believed that it had been instigated by the 
English, and accordingly laid an embargo on all 
British vessels at Rangoon. 

Here was sufficient cause for hostilities. But the 
cost of the wars in India, promoted during the 
government of the Marquis Wellesley, had ren- 
dered it imperative upon the local rulers who suc- 
ceeded him, to avoid such an expensive alternative, 
and another mission was, therefore, in the first 
instance, preferred. What other inference could an 
ignorant and isolated potentate draw from this ap- 
parent acceptance of indignity, than that the Eng- 
lish were powerless to resent, or rated an amicable 
intercourse with Burmah too highly to risk a per- 
manent rupture ? He mistook a prudent policy for 
fear, founded on inherent weakness, and his arro- 
gance proportionately increased. At first his de- 
signs were cloaked by an appearance of inaction, 
and the time of the British Indian Government was 
too much occupied by the quarrels with Nepaul 
and the Mahrattas, to allow of its watching the move- 
ments of any power in the South East. But gra- 
dually the king of the White Elephant unfolded his 
schemes of aggrandizement, invaded Assam, reduced 
Munnipoora, # through the agency of his general, 
one Bundoola, and although at peace with the 
British, sent troops into the Company's territories, 

* Then an independent state lying between Burmah and 
Assam. 



INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. 



13 



oppressed our traders, and insulted our flag and 
country in every possible way. 

At this juncture, Lord Amherst landed in Cal- 
cutta, on the 1st of August, 1823, as Governor- 
General of India. He gave his immediate attention 
to the conduct of the Burmese. An explanation 
was demanded of the numerous offences committed 
against the British government; but the haughty 
and independent reply betrayed a spirit of aggres- 
sion, and every attempt at an honourable and satis- 
factory adjustment was met with scornful silence. 
The Governor- General then declared war against 
the Burmese. The declaration was dated the 5th of 
March, 1 824, and operations commenced by the ad- 
vance of a British force, which had been collected 
at Goalparah, into Assam, while arrangements were 
made to vigorously prosecute the war in other 
quarters. 

And now commenced the most expensive and 
harassing war in which the British had ever been 
engaged in India. Almost totally unacquainted with 
the character and resources of the country into 
which our arms were to be carried — unaware of the 
nature of the climate, which in the marshy districts 
scarcely yielded to Walcheren in the pestiferous 
quality of the atmosphere — the government entered 
upon its arrangements with a recklessness of ex- 
pense, and a disregard of the future, which ignor- 
ance might account for, if it did not wholly excuse. 



14 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



Steam, at this time, had scarcely asserted its won- 
derful agency. As an engine of war it was cer- 
tainly unknown everywhere, although steamers 
peacefully traversed all the rivers of Great Britain 
and some parts of the continent of Europe: and 
in India, so backward had been the endeavours of 
the government to honour the enterprise of " James 
Watt," that not more than two or three vessels had 
begun to boil and bubble through the seas which 
washed the coasts of Coromandel and of Burmah. 
Slow-sailing trading-vessels were consequently the 
only means of transport available for one portion of 
the army destined to invade Burmah, and such were 
the difficulties of the country lying between Cal- 
cutta and Arracan, that the other part of the force, 
despatched by land, was three months in reaching its 
destination. 

Rangoon, situated on the Irrawaddy about thirty 
miles from the sea, was captured by the British in 
May 1824, and a movement was soon afterwards 
made into the interior; for the Governor- General of 
India had resolved to dictate terms to the haughty 
Burmese ruler only at his capital, in presence of an 
army prepared to dethrone him as the penalty of 
refusal. A gallant and stubborn resistance was 
made by the Burmese throughout the war, which 
actually lasted nearly two years. Formidable stock- 
ades, consisting entirely of timber, everywhere pre- 
sented a barrier to our advance, and cover to the 



INTEODUCTOEY SKETCH. 



15 



enemy, who employed musketry and cannon, as well 
as the more savage implements of war in the prolonged 
contest. The heavy periodical rains flooding the 
land, impeded operations for several months, and 
during this period of inaction, disease, the result of 
malaria, penetrated the British camp, and nearly 
decimated the regiments. Not less than one-half of 
the invading force was destroyed by the combined 
agencies of fever and patriotic resistance.* The 

* It appears by a return drawn up by Lieutenant-Colonel 
Kelly, the Deputy Adjutant- General, that during the first 
year 3f- per cent, of the troops were killed in action, while 45 
per cent, perished from disease. In the ensuing year the mor- 
tality from the same causes had decreased one-half; but the 
total loss during the war amounted to 72 J per cent, of the 
troops engaged. There were present at Rangoon on the 1st of 
January 1825, officers included: — 

Artillery, including Rocket-troops . . 1,071 

European Infantry 4,146 

Native Infantry, &c 7,628 

Total . . . . 12,845 men. 
At Arracan and the S. E. Frontier, on the 1st February 
1825, there were 9,937; and at Prome, on the 11th August of 
the same year, 12,110. The loss, from the commencement to 
the close of the war, was : — 



Grand total of officers killed 24, deceased 


41 


= 65 


Xative commissioned „ 6, „ 


28 


= 34 


Xon- commissioned rank 






and rile, Europeans ,, 105, „ 


3,029 


= 3,134 


Ditto, ^Natives „ 90, „ 


1,305 


= 1,395 






450 


Total casualties . 




. 5,078 



(A-ccrding to Deputy Adjutant -General's Return, 5,080.) 



16 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



mortality was frightful; the country, devastated or 
unfriendly, yielded nothing in the way of susten- 
ance to the troops, and supplies were therefore conti- 
nually forwarded from India, increasing the cost 
fearfully, and rendering the condition of the army 
extremely precarious. By dint of perseverance, and 
the courage which never deserts British or native 
troops ably commanded, and with a grand object in 
view, Assam, Arracan, and Mergui, fell into our 
hands ; the Burmese were defeated at Prome, on the 
Irrawaddy, and elsewhere ; and the troops approach- 
ing Ava, the monarch, terrified at the prospect of 
losing his capital, and perhaps his empire, met 
them at Yandaboo, where he signed a treaty con- 
senting to pay one million sterling towards the 
expenses of the war, and ceding Assam, and all the 
places on the Tenasserim coast. This contribution, 
and these cessions, fell far short of indemnifying the 
British India government for the outlay, which, from 
first to last, had exceeded twelve millions sterling. 

The territorial acquisitions, though by no means 
productive, have not been without their advantages 
in a commercial and political view. Extending from 
about 17° 35' to 10° north latitude, and from 97° 
30' to 99° 30' east longitude, the " Tenasserim Pro- 
vinces," as they have since been called, embrace a 
distance of 500 miles in length, and forty to eighty 
miles in breadth, according as the sea-coast ap- 
proaches or recedes from the range of mountains 



INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. 



17 



which forms the eastern boundary of the British 
territory. This chain of mountains, rich in tin ores 
and other valuable minerals, runs under different 
names from north to south, and, draining its eastern 
slopes into the Gulf of Siam, and its western slopes 
into the Indian Ocean or Bay of Bengal, forms a 
clear, well-defined boundary between the kingdom 
of Siam and the East India Company's possessions.* 

The town of Tenasserim was once famous ; it is 
now of little or no importance. ~Not far from it are 
tin mines, worked by Chinese, which may arrest the 
attention of the inquiring traveller. These mines 
are farmed from our Government: but are under- 
stood to be generally unprofitable to the merchants. 
In Siam, the cultivation of the soil is chiefly carried 
on by Chinese. Brass and rubies form the prin- 
cipal treasures of this strange country, which, on 
account of various misunderstandings between the 
king and other nations, has now an insignificant 
traffic. After the conclusion of the treaty of Yan- 
daboo, Sir A, Campbell, the Commander-in-Chief, 
selected the commanding position of Moulmein, at 
the point of junction of the Salween, the Gyne, and 
the Attaran rivers, for the permanent cantonment of 
a British force. 

The town of Moulmein has gradually become of 
considerable commercial importance, and with a 
good port for shipping, and every prospect of an 
* Calcutta Review, Xo. XY. p. 73. 

C 



18 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



extended timber trade, there is hope that it may one 
day rise to the dignity of an enlightened and wealthy 
city. 

But why should one town only gain happiness and 
prosperity in such a land as this ? Let us hope that 
Rangoon, and Pegu, the capital of a once mighty 
and independent kingdom, may likewise soon prosper 
through the blessings of an extensive and well-pro- 
tected commerce, doing honour to the government 
of the East India Company, and adding glory to the 
name of Great Britain in India beyond the Ganges. 



BURMESE PROVOKE A SECOND WAR. 19 



CHAPTER II. 



THE BURMESE PROVOKE A SECOND WAR. 



The treaty of Yandaboo guaranteed the security of 
our merchants and of our commerce. There was to 
be no oppression of British subjects. The mer- 
chants trading at Rangoon were to be liable to no 
inordinate exactions. On the whole, it seemed as 
if civilization had taken a stride, and from inter- 
course with our countrymen, that the empire founded 
by Alompra was in a fair way to gain reason and 
wisdom. But a dark cloud soon gathered on the 
political horizon which, twenty-six years after the 
treaty was signed, was to burn and destroy every 
hope of friendship between us, and force the Indian 
government, after unexampled long-suffering and 
patience, to put down " barbarian insolence" by force 
of arms. At first, the king agreed to receive a 
representative at Ava ; two of our residents were 
however, successively treated with every indignity, 
and the last was planted on an island in the Irra- 



20 



THE SECOND BURMESE "WAR. 



waddy without provisions, till the river rose and 
threatened to swamp him and his snite. We there- 
fore withdrew the representative altogether, rather 
than irritate the barbarous court. 

Latterly, our merchants at Rangoon, contrary to 
the stipulations of the treaty, were subjected to a 
series of oppressions and exactions, which, if unre- 
dressed, must have obliged us to quit the port. 
The merchants now applied for the interposition of 
the government of India, by whom the treaty was 
made. 

It is unnecessary to enter into a detail of all the 
insults heaped upon us by the Burmese. Suffice it 
to mention one case of injustice and oppression, that 
of a British captain of a vessel, who, on the false 
representation of a Burmese pilot, was placed by the 
Governor of Rangoon in the stocks, and fined nine 
hundred rupees. This outrage brought forth the 
sympathy of the good people at Moulmein, who 
raised a subscription equal to the fine to release the 
merchant from his unpleasant situation. 

To satisfy our oppressed merchants, the Most 
Noble the Governor-General, remote at the time 
from Calcutta, demanded the removal of the tyran- 
nical Governor, and the payment _of the sum of 
nine hundred pounds sterling, "the price," as was 
humourously remarked, " of four or five of the golden 
spittoons in the palace of Ava." The admission of 
a resident or agent at Rangoon, or Ava, was also 



THE NEW GOVERNOE. 



21 



required. The small sum of money was considered ne- 
cessary as compensation for losses sustained by 
Messrs. Lewis and Shepperd, the latter of whom is 
the party alluded to. The pacific disposition mani- 
fested by the Court of Ava, on the receipt of the 
Governor-General's despatch, induced Commodore 
Lambert, of the Royal Navy, with his squadron, who 
had been some time previously deputed to Rangoon, 
to demand reparation for the extortions practised 
upon British subjects, contrary to the treaty of 
Yandaboo. On the first of January, 1852, the 
King's reply to the Governor-General was delivered ; 
and, with consummate assurance, the Golden Foot 
professed an anxious desire "to comply with the 
demands which had been made, and to maintain the 
relations of peace." 

On the morning of the 4th, the new Governor 
arrived at Rangoon from Ava, " empowered by the 
King to settle the claims of the Indian Govern- 
ment." He came in regal pomp, -attended by a large 
retinue, consisting "ot^an armament of barges and 
war boats. The latter, decorated with elaborate 
carving and gilding, are said to have contained about 
3,000 followers. Altogether, during his stately 
march, the Governor was accompanied by nearly 
4,000 men. He had levied the severest exactions 
on all the towns as he passed, and had in his train 
ten boats laden with powder. 

The ex-Governor of Rangoon, who had for some 



22 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



days been occupying a small dwelling near Govern- 
ment-house, paid his respects to the Viceroy on his 
arrival, and was repeatedly closeted with him. It 
was at first supposed that he would be subjected to 
a trial — at least an investigation — in the presence of 
the Viceroy, and a great number of the foreigners 
had drawn up statements of their grievances. But 
on the 5th, it was ascertained that he was in high 
favour with his Excellency, and, on the 6th of 
January, he departed in triumph to Ava, with all his 
family and a large retinue, and all the plunder he 
had accumulated, in fifty boats. A clever trick, 
truly, in a Governor, whose will for so long a time 
had been law five hundred miles from the capital ! 

The day after arrival, the Governor sent an 
order to Mr. Birrell, a merchant, to take down a flag- 
staff he had erected, and to remove a gun he had 
placed in position on his landing-place. Mr. Birrell 
very properly replied, that the flag-staff having been 
placed there by the consent of the Commodore, 
either to signal him in case of their being attacked, or 
to establish a communication between the Europeans 
on shore and the ships of war, he could not alter the 
arrangement without the Commodore's permission. 
The Governor became enraged at this reply, and 
immediately ordered all communication with the 
shipping to be stopped. Commodore Lambert, un- 
willing to give the Burmese any cause of offence, 
directed the flag-staff to be removed. But the pro- 



BURMESE INSOLENCE. 



23 



hibition of all intercourse with our ships, had already 
caused the flight of unfortunate carpenters, coolies, 
and workmen of every description. 

Mr. Birr ell, on the removal of the flag-staff, # had 
been directed to inform the Governor that the Com- 
modore had done so on the assurance that their 
property and persons were safe under his govern- 
ment. Trade was then resumed. 

On the evening of this day, Mr. Edwards, the 
interpreter, visited the Governor of Dalla — a pic- 
turesque town, situated opposite Rangoon — and 
inquired if the promised Governor had really ar- 
rived. Doubt appears to have arisen on this point 
among our functionaries, from the fact of so many 
hours having elapsed without any Viceroy taking no- 
tice of the Commodore, either by letter of friendship 
or simply by the announcement of arrival. The old 
Governor answered in the affirmative, and wondered 
at the question " when he must have seen, by the 
great state and display on the river, that the Gover- 
nor had arrived." 

On the morning of the 6th, Mr. Edwards was 
sent to inquire the cause of the Viceroy's silence, 
and also to ascertain if it would be convenient for 
the Governor to receive a deputation, or any 
public communication. At the door of the man- 
sion, dignified with the appellation of a palace, 
Mr. Edwards was stopped by a Burmese menial, 
* And, we suppose, also of the gun. 



24 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



who, according to one statement, "drawing his 
sword, desired him to crouch to the ground, on near- 
ing the presence of his Governor." Mr. Edwards 
sent word by another servant, that he was waiting 
with a message from the Commodore. He was then 
admitted. On the Interpreter's complaining of the 
ill-treatment received at the door, the culprit was 
ordered into the presence : he was then, we are told, 
" punished, and dragged out of the room by the hair 
of his head." 

Orders were also issued, that no one was to be 
stopped who had business with the Governor from 
the Commodore. 

The Viceroy's bearing was courteous. He in- 
formed Mr. Edwards that he would at all times be 
happy to hear from the Commodore, or to see him. 
In this there was good behaviour on the part of the 
Viceroy ; but, according to another statement, the 
Governor f e spoke in a tone of derision which created 
no small merriment among the officers around him." 
Not long after this curious interview, a deputation 
started to wait on the Viceroy. 

It consisted of Captain Fishbourne, of H. M. S. 
S. Hermes, Captain Latter, the chief Interpreter, 
and some other officers. # And now commenced 
Burmese incivility to the fullest extent, notwith- 
standing the fact that the Commodore had received 

* The deputation likewise included, we believe, Mr. Sou- 
they, the Commodore's Secretary. 



THE DEPUTATION INSULTED. 



25 



every deputation from shore with the greatest 
courtesy. On their arrival at Government-house^ 
the members were not admitted to the Viceroy's 
presence. Some of the Burmese officers had 
thought them mad in attempting what was con- 
sidered such audacity towards their new Governor. 
Our officers, therefore, had been obliged to force 
their way, through a crowd of insolent barbarians, 
to the neighbourhood of the hall of audience, 
They were prevented from going up -stairs, till the 
Viceroy's permission had been obtained. After some 
minutes, Captain Latter was informed that his 
Excellency was asleep, and could not be disturbed. 
At this very time of glorious repose, the wily 
Governor had telegraphed for. Mr. Edwards to come 
into the presence, which the deputation, of course, 
would not allow him to do. Captain Latter urged 
the necessity of seeing the Viceroy, before their 
departure ; but "every remonstrance on his part, with 
the most distinguished of the officers present, proved 
unavailing." The members of the deputation re- 
turned to the Commodore, reporting what had taken 
place, and the great insult to which they had been 
subjected. 

According to the established law of nations, on a 
demand for justice being refused, reprisals follow of 
right. The property of any Burmese subjects 
"might have been lawfully seized, but it was 
deemed much better to take what was notoriously 



26 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



the King's than to distress individuals who might 
never have been compensated by their own Govern- 
ment, and who would probably have been punished for 
complaining."* Certainly, the whole affair was left 
to the Commodore's discretion, and it is difficult to 
see how any act of his could have been more natural 
or proper, than that of seizing the King's ship, then 
lying in the harbour; this was done. In the after- 
noon of the day on which the deputation was in- 
sulted, a message was sent from the flag-ship, 
requesting all British merchants and residents at 
Rangoon to repair on board the frigate. Those who 
claimed British protection, were but too glad to find 
it in this instance. The Commodore stated to them 
what he had done, how he had failed to maintain 
pacific relations, and how the British Government 
and Flag had been grossly insulted, "and that the 
insult was manifestly intentional, and not accidental." 
All were ordered to embark that evening, as the 
town was to be placed under blockade. The Proser- 
pine steamer would be sent to cover their embarka- 
tion. The grand flight is graphically described in 
the " Friend of India " (a Bengal newspaper), and 
is evidently from the pen of an eye-witness. " The 
Proserpine steamer ran close into the main wharf, 
and eight or ten of the boats from the frigate and 
steamers came to the shore to protect and receive 
the fugitives. Meanwhile, the streets were filled 
* Bengal Hurkaru and Calcutta Englishman. 



THE "FLIGHT" FROM RANGOON. 



27 



with armed Burmese, and Burmese officers were 
moving to and fro on horseback, threatening all who 
gave assistance to the foreigners; in consequence of 
which, not a cooly could be procured. All classes 
of foreigners — Moguls, Mussulmans, Armenians, 
Portuguese, and English — were seen crowding down 
to the river with boxes and bundles, and whatever 
they could carry, but they were obliged, generally, to 
abandon all the property they possessed. Mr. Kin- 
caid, the American missionary, left his library, con- 
sisting of more than a thousand volumes, the collec- 
tion of twenty years, behind him to be destroyed, 
too happy, however, to find his wife and children safe 
under the British flag." " By eight o'clock," says one 
authority, " all the British subjects had embarked, 
and by midnight the whole of the ships were removed 
by the steamers from off the town ; the men-of-war 
all moved, and the King of Burmah's ship taken 
with the fleet some five miles down the river." On 
the 7th, all ships were ordered to prepare for their 
departure out of the Rangoon waters, to be convoyed 
by the men-of-war out of the river. 

On the 8th, the H. C.'s steamer Proserpine left for 
Moulmein with upwards of two hundred* refugees on 
board. During these important transactions, we are 
informed that Burmese officers came repeatedly to the 
flag-ship "to offer excuses for the rudeness of the 

* Numbering near four hundred, with their families. — 
Bengal Hurkaru. 



23 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



Viceroy, but none of them were accredited. The 
Commodore insisted that the Viceroy should himself 
apologize for the insult offered to the British flag, and 
engaged, in that case, to return and forget the past." 
At length, it seemed that there was one exception 
to the intolerable arrogance and insolence of the 
Burmese officials, in the person of the old Governor of 
Dalla, who came on board the Fox, and entreated the 
Commodore " to give him time to see the Viceroy, and 
persuade him to apologize." Out of regard to the 
venerable age of the Governor, he was allowed till 
the evening to try his best at this work of peace. 
But his Highness of Rangoon had come from Ava 
and Prome with no such views. The Lord of the 
White Elephant would again try conclusions with us 
in the field. He had forgotten the campaign of 
1824, and did not deem favourably of our prowess 
from comparatively recent victories over the Chinese 
only — a nation over which the kingdom of Ava 
had been triumphant many centuries ago. 

While the old Governor of Dalla was supposed to 
be absent on his mission, a written document arrived 
from the Viceroy, stating that, " if the Commodore 
attempted to pass the two stockades which had been 
erected down the river, he would be fired upon." 
The Commodore replied that if even a pistol were 
fired, he would level the stockades with the ground. 
And with this mutual determination may be said 
to have commenced the second Burmese war ! 



BLOCKADE OF RANGOON RIVERS. 29 



In the fulfilment of his plans, the Commodore now 
issued the following 

" Notification.; 

" In virtue of authority from the Most Noble the 
Governor- General of British India, I do hereby de- 
clare the rivers of Rangoon, the Bassein and the 
Salween above Moulmein, to be in a state of 
blockade ; and with the view to the strict enforce- 
ment thereof, a competent force will be stationed in 
or near the entrance of the said rivers immediately. 

" Neutral vessels lying in either of the blockaded 
rivers will be permitted to retire within twenty days 
from the commencement of the blockade. 

" Given under my hand, on board Her Britannic 
Majesty's frigate Fox, off the town of Rangoon, the 
6th of January, 1852. 

(Signed) "George Robert Lambert, 

" Commodore in Her Britannic 
" Majesty's Navy. 

" By Command of the Commodore. 

(Signed) "James Lewther Southey, 
" Secretary." 

Before the departure of the Fox, large war-boats 
were observed proceeding from Rangoon to rendez- 



30 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



vous at the stockades, at which, it was said, five 
thousand men were congregated.* 

It was soon reported in Moulmein and Calcutta, 
that, even at this early period, twelve thousand 
men were ready at Rangoon to do battle with 
us : in a few weeks there would be at least thirty 
thousand. 

On the 9th of January, the day after the Proser- 
pine left, and the threatening letter had been written 
to the Commodore, the Hermes steamer towed the 
Fox down to off the upper stockade. The Hermes 
then returned to bring on the King's ship to keep the 
frigate company. The merchantmen, at the same 
time, prepared to pass down the river. It was early 
in the morning when these decisive movements com- 
menced. The sun seemed not to shine with its usual 
splendour. It was evident that some great change 
had taken place in our relations with Burmah, and 
that the British lion had been roused from his for- 
bearance. 

At length, the Hermes came in sight, rounding the 
point with the Burmese prize-vessel in tow. As she 
passed the stockade, guns in rapid succession were 
opened on the vessels of war; at the same time, 
volleys of musketry were discharged upon them. The 

* The Burmese were jealous of these river defences ; for it is 
a popular belief among them, that if they were destroyed, the 
temple of Gaudama, who is supposed to keep a watchful eye 
over them, would be lost. 



FIRST ACTION. 



31 



Fox immediately returned the enemy's fire by a ter- 
rific broadside ; she likewise thundered forth against 
the war-boats which had ventured into the river. 

The Hermes then came up, and poured forth her 
shot and shell into the line of stockade. The Phle- 
gethon steamer, likewise, did vast destruction to the 
works. For nearly two hours were our vessels em- 
ployed in spreading ruin and dismay around. During 
the conflict, a large gun-boat, having on board a gun 
of considerable calibre, and upwards of sixty armed 
men, was sunk by a broadside, when nearly all on 
board perished. Altogether, about three hundred of 
the enemy were killed, and about the same number 
wounded, in this first encounter with the Burmese. 
As the vessels proceeded down to the next stockade, 
they were again fired on, but only by musketry. 

It was remarked, at the conclusion of these opera- 
tions, that the enemy " probably had no intention of 
serious resistance, but felt themselves obliged to 
make some show of defence, when they saw the 
King's property taken off j as the heads of the leading 
men were at stake." # 

* " The Governor did not state that the Commodore would 
not be permitted to pass the stockades with the king's ship ; 
but that he would be fired on if he attempted to remove any 
British property. There is, therefore, every reason to believe, 
that if the royal vessel had not been touched, the stockades 
would equally have opened a fire on our vessels, as they passed 
down the river." — Friend of India, Feb. 5. 



32 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



After the Commodore's engagement with the 
stockades, he departed for Calcutta in the Hermes, 
to report progress, and receive additional instruc- 
tions. The Proserpine, from Moulmein, with de- 
spatches for Government, and intelligence of the 
insult to the deputation, the " flight, " and the 
blockade, had previously reached Calcutta. 

Commodore Lambert did not, as was expected, 
find the Governor-General at Calcutta ; but, on the 
18th of January, an Extraordinary Council was 
held, after which a despatch was sent off to Lord 
Dalhousie; and the 18 th Royal Irish were ordered 
to hold themselves in readiness for embarkation. It 
was afterwards decided to send down at once to 
Moulmein a wing of the regiment, and a company 
of artillery, in all about five hundred men, for the 
protection of that important post in the Tenasserim 
Provinces. The Commodore, in the Hermes, reached 
the Rangoon river about the 27th, without, on ac- 
count of the absence of the Governor-General, any 
positive instructions. 

The Governor-General arrived at Calcutta on the 
night of the 29th of January ; and, on the following 
day, as was to be expected, Burmese affairs formed 
the absorbing business of the Council. It was stated 
that his Lordship gave his entire approbation to the 
proceedings of Commodore Lambert. A report 
reached Calcutta, on the 30th ult., of the Burmese 
having threatened an attack on the province of Arra- 



TRANQUILLLITY OF ARRACAN. 33 

can. And now despatch really became the order of 
the day. The Precursor, a magnificent steam-vessel, 
belonging to the P. 0. S. Navigation Company, 
with the 67th N. I., and half a company of Native 
Artillery, on board, departed immediately from Cal- 
cutta for Arracan. The vessel was coaled, victualled, 
and made ready for sea, in eight-and-forty hours after 
obtaining the contract for transporting the troops ! 
In the first chapter, we have casually alluded to her 
rapid voyage. " When the huge Precursor made her 
appearance at Kyook Phyoo," writes an officer, " all 
the native boats fled, frightened at her size." The 
80th — Queen's Regiment — reached Fort William 
from Dinapore on the 30th of January ; and it was 
expected the remaining wing of xhe 18th Royal Irish 
would be immediately despatched to Moulmein or 
Arracan. This last movement, fortunately, never 
took place. The threatened province remained in a 
state of profound tranquillity. " An officer had been 
deputed to the Aeng Pass, in the heart of the Zama 
mountains, which separate Arracan from the basin of 
the Irrawaddy ; and he saw trade going on as briskly as 
ever. Many Burmese and Shan (Siamese) merchants 
were passing and re-passing with their cattle, laden 
with merchandize, as though nothing had happened, 
or was likely to happen. But, notwithstanding the 
undisturbed state of the upper part of the valley of 
the Irrawaddy, the despatch of some troops to Arra- 
can was a wise measure at such a crisis." 

D 



34 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



We return to the gallant Commodore. A steamer 
was detained at Calcutta, immediately on his depar- 
ture for Rangoon, to bring an answer to the despatch 
sent off by express to the Governor- General. The 
Fire Queen arrived off Rangoon river at the end of 
January. Soon after arrival, she anchored ahead of 
the Fox, and " towed her up off the Hastings Sand, 
which is about four or five miles below Rangoon." 
On proceeding up the river, or passing the first 
stockade — some twelve or fifteen miles from the 
entrance — the steamer and frigate were both fired 
upon, by which the Fox lost a man. The frigate re- 
turned the fire with shot and shell. The Tenasse- 
rim, while passing up the river the following day, 
was also fired upon, and the Fire Queen in passing 
down. # The Fire Queen had brought a despatch to 
the Commodore, also a letter to Cf His High Mighti- 
ness" on shore, from the Governor- General. The 
Fox, on arriving off Rangoon, sent a boat in charge 
of a lieutenant, accompanied by Captain Latter, with 
a flag of truce, to convey letters from the Governor- 
General and the Commodore to the Viceroy. 

A written apology, we believe, was required by 
Lord Dalhousie from the Rangoon governor to him- 
self, for the insult offered to the deputation. And 
with this exception no fresh demands were made. 
The next day a reply was returned to the Com- 

* The Fire Queen took the intelligence to Calcutta, arriving 

on the 9th of February. 



BUEMESE NEGOTIATIONS. 



35 



modore, and one forwarded for the Governor- 
General by the hands of a dirty non-official, who 
might have passed for a coolie or a cow-herd, in 
a canoe befitting his appearance. This was pro- 
bably intended as a mark of disrespect by the 
authorities to the straightforward negotiator on 
board the Fox. To avoid the Commodore as much 
as possible, letters were now sent from the Viceroy 
to the Governor- General via Martaban to Moul- 
in ein, to be forwarded by the Commissioner of the 
Tenasserim Provinces. One of these despatches is 
said to have been forwarded with due civility, the 
messenger asking permission of the blockading vessel 
to pass over. 

Then came a letter, about the 7th of February, 
from the King of Ava, which arrived at Moulmein 
in due state. The Martaban officials wished the 
Commissioner, and not the Commodore, to settle 
the whole affair.* Colonel Bogle and Commodore 

* Towards the middle of February, the H. C.'s steamer 
PMegethon arrived in Calcutta. " His Majesty is said to write 
peacefully. He professes to have been deceived by the au- 
thorities at Rangoon; of course, the usual plea — it was his 
servants, not himself, who were insolent ; and desires, hereafter, 
to be communicated with through Major Bogle, the Commis- 
sioner, and not through the Commodore. The time for the 
intervention of the civil power is, we suspect, past. It is not 
said that his Majesty professes any desire to come into the 
terms proposed as indispensable before amicable relations could 
be resumed." — Bombay Times. 



36 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



Lambert were, in their opinion, personages as 
different in relative importance and character, as 
Gaudama and Siva. One was all thunder and 
lightning, the other a beautiful example of calm 
and dignified repose. But this Burmese interpre- 
tation of the character of the gallant sailor, or that 
of his frigate, did not lessen the power of a saying, 
which every sharp school-boy can translate — In- 
genium in numerato habe. 

H. M.'s brig Serpent, some days before the ar- 
rival of the king of Ava's letter at Moulmein, 
destroyed three small stockades at the entrance of 
Negrais river, off which she was stationed. The 
Burmese fired upon her, in fulfilment of repeated 
threats. Captain Luard very humanely abstained 
from returning the fire, on account of the number 
of harmless villagers about; he simply landed his 
men, and burned the works of the enemy. The 
Burmese seemed determined to provoke a war. 

At length, on the 10th or 12th of February, it 
was decided by the Indian Government to send an 
expedition to Burmah. It was conjectured that, if 
actual hostilities should not ultimately become neces- 
sary, the appearance of an armament might pro- 
bably excite the apprehensions of the Burmese, 
and induce them to yield to the just demands of the 
British. 



SAYINGS AND DOINGS AT MADRAS. 37 



CHAPTER III. 

SAYINGS AND DOINGS AT MADRAS. 

The practice of journalizing, cordially recommended 
by the illustrious Lord Bacon, has so much to re- 
commend it that the marvel is, not that it is occa- 
sionally resorted to, but that it is not almost uni- 
versal. Memory is so apt to play us false ; the most 
trivial circumstances are liable to become so dis- 
torted or obscured by the intervention of even a 
brief space of time, that no reliance can be placed 
on the truth of any description that is not nearly 
coeval with the incident narrated. Moreover, the 
labour of a diary is light, while that of generalizing 
from recollection is often severe. 

As we owe much to the diaries of our country- 
men and others, who have been located in different 
parts of the world at stirring epochs, it occurred to 
the author of these pages, that he also might be 
rendering a service to society, and provide fitting 
materials for the future historian, if he " set in his 



38 



THE SECOND BUKMESE WAR. 



note-book" the events which were now likely to 
vary and distinguish each succeeding day. 

Quartered at St. Thomas's Mount, the head- 
quarters of the Madras Artillery, a picturesque spot 
eight miles from Madras, and one of the liveliest 
stations of the army, the opportunities he enjoyed 
of hearing and witnessing the din of warlike pre- 
paration were not to be neglected. He resolved to 
open a journal, and to be as faithful to his self- 
imposed task as his professional avocations would 
allow. The narrative form, hitherto adopted, is 
therefore suspended, and a transcript from the diary 
of the author submitted to the reader. 

February \§th, 1852. — Orders received at St. 
Thomas's Mount for three European Companies of 
Artillery, to hold themselves in readiness for field- 
service in Burmah. Instructions have also been 
received by the Madras government, to hold in 
readiness " for immediate embarkation for Rangoon, 
if necessary," H. M.'s 51st Eegt. K. 0. L. I., two 
regiments of Native Infantry, and one Engineer 
officer. Bengal is to furnish a similar force, and 
an officer of rank is to command the whole. A 
Company of Artillery from that Presidency, with 
Major Reid and Lieutenant Boyle, also a wing of 
H. M.'s 18th Royal Irish, left Fort William about 
a month ago, in the Hon. Company's steamers Ten- 
asserim and Proserpine, to reinforce Moulmein. In 
the papers it is stated that a spirit of life and 



THE HOSTILE FLEET. 



39 



activity reigns among the military establishments 
in Calcutta. Of course, in Madras, too, it will now 
be all double work — work for the prospect of <s glo- 
rious war" is a capital sauce to exertion. About the 
21st of February, orders were received in Bombay, 
from the Governor-General, for all the war-steamers 
that could be spared to be sent to Rangoon without 
a moment's delay, ready for immediate action. The 
Feroze was to be at once converted into a frigate, 
and placed under the command of Captain Lynch, as 
Commodore of the Indian Navy Squadron. The 
Moozuffer, Zenobia, Sesostris, and Medusa, were the 
other vessels appointed ; the Berenice to act as troop 
and store-ship. A month hence there will, in all 
likelihood, be a fleet of at least eight large, and five 
second-class war-steamers assembled in the Burmese 
waters, one of the largest collections of this fearfully 
formidable class of ships that has ever been brought 
together for purposes of actual hostility. The Feroze 
and Moozuffer are each vessels of 500 horse-power 
and 1,500 tons, the Sesostris of 300 horse-power and 
1,200 tons, all armed with guns of eight-inch calibre, 
throwing hollow shot and shells to the distance of 
a couple of miles. # Expedition in marine matters 
was never practised with greater success than in the 
preparation of these Bombay war-steamers for ser- 
vice. In a few days everything was ready, reflect- 



* Bombay Times. See, also, Appendix No. L 



40 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



ing the highest credit on Commodore Lushington, 
and the officers of the Indian Navy. The squadron 
was ordered round to Madras for the conveyance of 
the troops to Rangoon. The steamers were ex- 
pected to arrive early in March. 

February 22nd. — The bustle at the Mount is 
exciting. "They won't go after all!" say some. 
" There will be tough work, I bet ! " say others. 
But even those who have a fancy that the troops 
will " never cross the surf," are very busy withal. 
Extraordinary doings at the Mount have certainly 
begun. News arrived to-day that the Burmese have 
one hundred o-uns at and about Rangoon. It is re- 
ported that the old town of Rangoon has been 
burned by order of the Governor, and that the new 
one is strongly fortified. The new town was founded 
by Tharawaddy not many years since, and a fort built 
about one mile and a half inland from the old site. 
An authority from Calcutta says : — Information has 
been received that all the houses in Rangoon are 
razed to the ground, and the inhabitants removed to 
Oakahlabad, the new town ; that this position is 
being doubly stockaded with the wooden materials 
from the houses destroyed at the old. 

March 2nd. — The Madras Artillery officers of the 
expedition to Rangoon dined with Colonel St. Maur, 
and the officers of H. M. 51st K. O. L. L, meeting 
those of the 35th and 9th Madras Native Infantry. 
It was a grand and social entertainment. The Artil- 



THE SIXTY-EIGHT-POUNDEK SHOT. 41 



lery return the compliment paid us by H. M. 51st 
to-morrow evening. 

These social gatherings, before proceeding on ser- 
vice, are unquestionably conducive to the establish- 
ment of mutual good feeling in the army. They 
tend to keep that friendship, which should ever exist 
amongst soldiers, in good repair at a critical time. 

Regarding the curiosity excited among the Bur- 
mese by firing off a 68-pounder shot into one of their 
stockades, the following absurd, but characteristic 
" story " was brought to Madras, a few days ago., 
from Rangoon. The shot was taken before the 
Governor by an official. The latter functionary, who 
had weighed it, declared its weight to be equal to 
sixty-eight pounds. The Governor was sceptical; 
but at length, having fully satisfied himself as to the 
weight, and having commended rather than punished 
the official for his information, to crown his surprise, 
and probably show his master, from the demon just 
projected by a ship's gun, what a dreadful enemy he 
had to deal with in the British, he ordered the huge 
shot to be immediately forwarded to the King of 
Ava ! # 

* During the last war, the following incident occurred. At 
an early period of the operations, the chief, Bundoola, having 
heard so much of the destructive properties of a shell, desired 
that one should be brought to him for inspection. A shell, 
with a very long fuse, having been projected by the British, 
the live creature was being brought, fizzing at a dreadful rate* 



42 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



Sunday, March 7 th. — The squadron of war- 
steamers of the Indian Navy, with the exception of 
the Zenobia and Medusa, arrived in the roads. 

From Calcutta we learn (it is reported in confi- 
dence) that, in the Governor- General's reply to the 
King of Ava's letter, there is a demand for the ex- 
penses of the war to the extent of ten lacs of rupees, 
"to be paid within a limited period, and to be 
doubled if not immediately made good." Prepara- 
tions for war are uninterrupted. 

The Calcutta Gazette, of the 25th of February, has 
the following notification regarding Burmah, " which 
shows that the Governor-General is determined to 
enforce his demand for satisfaction from the Golden 
Foot": — 

" The following additional notification of blockade 
issued by Commodore G. R. Lambert, under autho- 
rity from the Government of India, is published 
for general information. 

66 The Barragu River, and other outlets of the Irra- 
waddy, are included in the blockade declared by me 
on the 6 th instant. 

to Bundoola. This they thought to be a decided failure, and 
the thing might be examined. The warrior, at some distance, 
surveyed, with great curiosity, the unfortunate men bringing 
the fiery fiend along. Another second or two, and it burst, 
killing the carriers and every one beside it. Bundoola was 
thunderstruck ; and, for the whole of that day, his courage left 
him. 



REQUISITION FOR TROOPS. 43 



" Given under my hand, on board her Britannic 
Majesty's steam-sloop Hermes, in the Bassein River, 
on the 25th of January, 1852. 

(Signed) " G. R. Lambert, 

" Commander in her Britannic 
" Majesty's Navy. 

"By order of the M. N. the Governor- 
" General of India in Council." 

March 9th. — " They insist on war, war they shall 
have with a vengeance." The Delhi Gazette quotes 
this well-known remark, made by the Governor- 
General, in his speech at Barrackpore, before the 
triumphs of the second Punjaub war, asserting that 
war with Burmah, on the most extensive scale, has 
been resolved on. They are likewise informed, in 
the north-west, that " a requisition for ten thousand 
men, including two Queen's regiments, has reached 
Madras. It is recorded in history that Madras 
sepoys were the first, if not the last, among our 
native troops to cross bayonets with French infantry ; 
they surely never can forget that." # What would 
Bernadotte, the late King of Sweden, have thought 
had he read these words ? " Native troops cross 
bayonets with French infantry ? " he might have mut- 
tered, while one of the scenes of a long, eventful 
life rushed to his memory. He was once a plain set- 
* Delhi Gazette, Feb. 21. 



44 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



geant, serving in the Deccan, and first distinguished 
himself at Cuddalore ! Had the Government of 
France possessed the sagacity of the English East 
India Company, Bernadotte might have shared in 
the foundation of an empire. 

" Look there, sir ! Do you know who that is at 
the end of the room ? " said a late Governor of Pon- 
dicherry to the writer of this narrative. A marble 
bust of Dupleix adorned the audience-chamber at 
Government House. " There, sir, is the man who 
gave Clive the idea of conquering and keeping this 
country by its own inhabitants ! The East India 
Company assisted Clive, and cherished the idea. But 
Dupleix, for this, and many other of his mighty 
schemes, was thought a madman by the French ; and 
thus the empire we should have founded and pre- 
served was lost ! " 

March 20th. — The news is various and interesting. 
Some Burmese have arrived in Calcutta, and re- 
ported that twenty thousand men are ready to stand 
against us. From Rangoon to Ava, the enemy are 
said to be determined to dispute every inch of the 
way. Nous verrons ! April is the hottest month in 
the year in Burmah, the thermometer ranging from 
90° to 95° ; and in that month we shall be employed ! 
But that is better than delay until after the rains, in 
October. War is to be ; and, with such resources as 
ours, " ' T were well it were done quickly ! " 

Major Oakes, Director of the Madras Artillery 



WARLIKE PREPARATION. 



45 



Depot of Instruction, and Major Montgomery, of the 
Mysore Commission, are to command two of our 
three companies going on service. It is a splendid 
opportunity for the former, who has long been desi- 
rous of distinguishing himself in the field. Report 
speaks highly of the intelligence and activity of the 
latter. Action is really here the genius of nature.* 
Under the zealous superintendence of Major 
Croggan, M. A., the serious business of ranges and 
fusees, also mounting and dismounting ordnance, 
have formed no inconsiderable portion of exercise 
before embarkation. At Dum Dum, f it appears, a 
small stockade has been erected, which was to be im- 
mediately blown up, for practice. The men of 
II. M.'s 80th Regiment, just arrived from Dinapore, 
have performed the mimic task of storming the 
Burmese stockades, "which they practised in the 
cunette of Fort William, crossing the ditch, and 
placing their bamboo scaling-ladders against the angle 
of the bastion opposite Calcutta. The sight was a 
pretty one," continues the Calcutta journalist, "but 
resembled the play of 'Hamlet,' with Hamlet left 
out. The Burmese were wanting ; and we could not 
help thinking that, as some of our timid contempora- 
ries have been suggesting the probability of the 
large number of them that are now in Calcutta 
sacking the city, it would have been as well to have 
* Dr. Blair. 

f Head Quarters of the Bengal Artillery. 



46 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



had them on the ramparts of Fort William during 
yesterday's siege, and there settled accounts with 
them." 

March 25th. — The Zenobia and Medusa are now 
added to the squadron in the Madras Roads; and we 
expect to start in a few days for Rangoon. 

March 28th. — Orders have, at length, been re- 
ceived for immediate embarkation. Madras is only 
to furnish one complete battery ; * the other two 
companies will be provided with ordnance from 
Bengal. We suppose this is on account of the dif- 
ficulty of embarking heavy guns with such a terrific 
surf as that at this port. 

Be that as it may, Madras is to have no Commis- 
sary of Ordnance ; for the best of all reasons — we do 
not now require one. But, had a sufficient portion of 
ordnance been furnished by our presidency, that ex- 
cellent officer, Captain W , was to have been 

appointed — one who, to a perfect knowledge of all 
artillery duty, adds a sly sort of humour, very 
pleasant in company. 

Colonel Elliott, K.H., of H. M.'s 51st Light In- 
fantry, is to command the Madras Brigade, f 

At two o'clock, on the morning of the 31st of 
March, the artillery set out from St. Thomas's 
Mount for the beach. The band accompanied the 

* Under Major Oakes. A. Company, 4th Battalion — a light 
field battery. 

f For Formation of, see Appendix, No. II. 



EMBARKATION OF ARTILLERY. 47 



force, and played several appropriate airs. The 
march was distinguished by the usual shouting, 
cheering, and singing, in which European soldiers 
love to indulge on departure from an old station. 
The embarkation presented a grand and exciting 
scene— such as a man may only witness once in his 
life. It was a splendid morning, which, added to the 
refreshing appearance of the blue waters, and the 
numerous vessels afloat, was calculated to fill the 
adventurer with life, and hope, and joy. The Madras 
shore at any time is impressive and picturesque, from 
the roar of the wild and dashing surf, the clear blue 
sky, the long line of elegant buildings fringing the 
beach, and then the incessant going to and fro of 
massulah boats and catamarans, communicating with 
ships in the roads. But now the whole line of beach 
was covered with a vast multitude of living creatures, 
men, women, and children. Hundreds of boats were 
in readiness to be filled, and all the Madras troops 
were to embark as nearly as possible at the same 
time. Old bullock bandies came creaking along, 
very late, wending their way to the boats. Knap- 
sacks, under the superintendence of Europeans and 
Jack Sepoy, were thrown into the uncouth machines, 
so admirably adapted for crossing the surf. In spite 
of the excellent arrangements made by the Quarter- 
Master-General, and the presence of many distin- 
guished officers, to maintain anything like order was 
absolutely impossible. The Madras surf alone is 



48 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



enough to put order out of countenance. There 
were parting scenes with relatives of the most tender 
nature. Among many pictures, it was painful to 
notice the anxious countenance of the Hindu-British 
wife, who, perhaps, was never to see her husband 
more : and then, in case of misfortune, who would 
father the children in their journey through life? 
The grief of some relatives was excessive ; for, cer- 
tainly, of those now departing to encounter " moving 
accident by flood and field," many would not be 
spared to return to the familiar shore on which they 
had just taken such an affectionate farewell ! 

The following exhibits the number of people who 
embarked on board the several vessels of the fleet :— 

Souls. 

Feroze 850 

Moozuffer 850 

Zenobia 600 

Sesostris . . . . . . 500 

Berenice ....... 550 

Medusa 100 

Rocklife 160 

Sir Thomas Gresham .... 220 

Hempsyche 220 

Atalanta 338 

Total Officers, Soldiers, and followers . 4,388 

C. B.* 



* The initials of our worthy and indefatigable Master At- 
tendant, Capt. Christopher Biden. 



THE VOYAGE TO RANGOON. 



49 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE VOYAGE TO RANGOON. 

Thursday, April 1st — On board the Berenice, 
which is allotted to the Artillery. The Moozuffer, 
Feroze, Zenobia, and Sesostris, convey Her Majesty's 
5 1st, and the regiments of Native Infantry. The 
Medusa, filled with stores and followers, keeps in 
rear of the Berenice. The four large war-steamers 
above-mentioned take in tow the transports,* Ata- 
lanta, Rockliffe, Sir Thomas Gresham, and Hemp- 
syche — on the whole, as glorious a set of names as 
ever honoured steam- vessels, or moved from a 
port. 

We have all slept off the excitement of yester- 
day's embarkation, and every one on board is in a 
quiet humour this morning. The Berenice has good 

* Containing officers of the Madras Sappers, with their de- 
partment ; one or two Artillery officers in charge of karkhanas 
(i. e. bullocks), commissariat stores, ordnance stores, cattle, 
&c. &c. 

E 



50 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



accommodation for passengers, and on the whole, 
both officers and men are tolerably comfortable. 

April 5th. — All steaming bravely along, the ves- 
sels, as Canning once remarked, walking the water 
"like giants rejoicing in their course." The scene 
presented at night is impressive, and suggestive of 
reflection. As the Artillery keep watch for a por- 
tion of each night, I am much on deck, noiselessly 
pacing for hours among sleeping soldiers, whose 
dreams mayhap partake of a curious admixture of 
the events of their past life, and the dim shadows 
of the future. Turning from the moving spectacle 
of " death in life," for such is the true interpretation of 
slumber, the eye wanders over the vast glossy expanse, 
through which the vessel forges her way, only illu- 
mined by the phosphorescence of the waters, and the 
lights of contiguous vessels, which ever and anon 
shift their position, as a slight deviation in the steer- 
age carries them for a moment out of their appointed 
course. 

It has been interesting to observe the occasional 
signalizing in the squadron. The Commodore hoists 
from the Feroze, " Is she at full speed?" or orders, 
"Reduce the supply of water from eight to six 
pints per day!" What next? think many who 
have no right to grumble. " Keep your appointed 
places ! " — another signal — suddenly appears, as if to 
remark that more than the steam-vessels were out of 
order. 



THE COMPANY'S EUROPEAN SOLDIER. 51 



April 6th. — We have had a good evening's enter- 
tainment from the men, in the way of singing and 
dancing, our gallant colonel, and all the officers, 
being present at the exhibition. Some of the per- 
formers and vocalists really displayed talent. But 
the gratification they afforded was alloyed by the 
reflection, that many of these young men had been 
destined for a higher and better position in life, 
which a misplaced ambition, a wild spirit of enter- 
prise, or a looseness of principle, had sacrificed. 
There is so broad a line of demarcation between 
the commissioned officer and the soldier in the East 
India Company's Service, that no hope exists for the 
latter of a rise to the higher grade ; but there are 
many situations and appointments in connection 
with the army, or of a more civil cast, to which a 
well-conducted soldier may aspire, and if they could 
be made as sensible of the importance of steadiness 
and sobriety, as they are conscious of the possession of 
talent, they would find opportunities of redeeming 
time. But the accursed spirit of drink interposes its 
baneful influence, and counteracts all the force of 
precept and the blandishment of hope. 

April 7th. — The muddy water this morning be- 
trays we are near Burmah. The dark fluid pro- 
ceeds from the mouth of the gigantic Irrawaddy,* 
of which there are some fourteen mouths, not too 
many for a body one thousand miles in length. 
* Appendix, No. 3. 



52 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



We expect to reach the mouth of the Rangoon 
river this afternoon, if we do not put in to Amherst 
for water. At break of day it was discovered that 
the Feroze, leading the first division, was out of 
sight. The Commodore had been too fast for us; 
but after a short time, the squadron reunited. It 
is in two divisions: the Feroze, Moozuffer, Berenice , 
and Medusa* forming the first, the Sesostris and 
Zenolia the second. 

Saw land at 1 P. M. ; anchored at the mouth of 
the Rangoon river about half-past three. Coast, a 
picturesque line of territory, with palmyras, man- 
groves, and many large trees, nobly extending to the 
rear. Passing Elephant Point, so styled from two 
famous trees growing there in the form of an ele- 
phant, a conical red pagoda, falling to ruins, ap- 
pears rising from the jungle. Gaudama certainly 
showed some wisdom in selecting such a position for 
a shrine, as if he had once showered down com- 
mercial prosperity on the empire, and placed a 
sentinel over it at the mouth of one of his rivers, 
which prosperity, on account of the misconduct of 
his devotees, was, like the small temple, hastening 
to a fall. 

April 8th. — Yesterday, on arrival, we discovered 

* This useful little iron steamer had been towed by the 
Berenice since the 2nd inst. Slow at sea ; but, from her draw- 
ing not more than three or four feet of water, invaluable in 
Burmah. 



MARTABAN. 



53 



that the Admiral and General had proceeded with 
H. M.'s war- steamers, Hermes, Rattler, Salamander, 
and the Hon. Company's steamer Proserpine, to 
attack Martaban, and bring on troops to the chief 
scene of action. 

On the 28th of March, Admiral Austen, com- 
manding in the Eastern seas, had left Penang in 
the screw steamer Rattler. He arrived off the 
mouth of the Rangoon river on the 1st of April. 
On the 2nd the Bengal division, in four steamers, 
the Hermes, Tenasserim, Enterprise, Fire Queen,* 
and four transports, arrived under General Godwin. 

MARTABAN. 

On the 3rd of April, the General and Admiral 
left for Moulmein, nearly opposite which is Mar- 
taban, and reached the capital of the Tenasserim 
Provinces^ the next day at noon. Martaban is 
situated on the right or north bank of the Salween 
river. The town to be attacked had been con- 
sidered by the Burmese a position of high import- 
ance. And there can be no doubt that it is so. 
In a military point of view, it is capable of making 
a very formidable defence. On the river appears 
the usual array of houses ; then, as you recede, trees 
extending to a hill, at the top of which is a pagoda ; 

* The three last Company's steamers, 
f i. e, Moulmein. 



54 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



then other hills stretching further away, adding 
dignity and grandeur to the landscape. An ex- 
pectant warrior from Moulmein, wrote on the 27th 
Feb. : — " We can both see and hear the Burmese 
on the other side of the river at Martaban, which 
is the place we are to attack, and it is my opinion 
that we shall have a great deal of trouble in crossing 
the river, and lose a great many men, as the enemy 
are five to one of our troops. The enemy had 
stockaded about the foot of the hill; near this a 
large pagoda offered another point for defence. A 
line of brick-work also served to strengthen the 
position. It may be stated, that a considerable 
portion of the town had been burned down by order 
of the Governor of Martaban. But still the re- 
bellious spirit had not perished in the flames. 
Friends were there ready enough to meet us, as 
they boasted ; but the sad reality came upon them 
on the 5th of April." 

On that day the war-steamers appeared in front 
of the town, and immediately opened fire against the 
defences. A storming party was then formed, headed 
by Colonel Reignolds, H. M.'s 18th Regt. They 
attacked the chief position under a heavy fire of guns 
and musketry, and in a few seconds Martaban fell. 
A Company of Bengal Artillery did not come into 
action, and thus, with few troops engaged,* and a loss 



Only a wing of the Royal Irish. 



THE VOYAGE TO KANGOON. 



55 



of life on our side hardly worth mentioning, the oc- 
cupation of an important position formed a brilliant 
commencement to the campaign. Martaban is dis- 
tant from Rangoon about seventy miles. On the 
afternoon of the 8th, the Admiral and General were 
again at the mouth of the Rangoon river. We 
were all on the tip-toe of expectation ; at length 
the Rattler came steaming in gloriously, showing 
off her screw power to great advantage. 

Then came the Hermes. The ris^ht wins:s of H. 
M.'s 18th and 80th Regiments, also a Company 
of Bengal Artillery, and two of Madras Sappers,* 
were the troops brought from Moulmein by the 
General. Loud cheering greeted the arrival of the 
two steamers. The distinguished 18th Royal Irish 
were now "all present." While the right wing 
passed along in the steamer to take up position, the 
band struck up the favourite air of " St. Patrick's 
Day ;" then came the " British Bayoneteers ;" this 
music on the water had a fine effect. Now "the 
food of love" became the food of war.f 

* The Sappers under Lieut. Ford, who commanded them at 
Martaban. 

f The General left Calcutta on the 25th of March. The 
arrangements made were as follows : — "The Tubal Cain, hospi- 
tal ship, will be towed by H. M.'s steamer Hermes; the Lahore, 
with the ordnance, ammunition, &c, by the Tenasserim ; and 
the Monarch, with the Engineers' park, scientific instruments, 
by the Enterprise. General Godwin, with his staff, will take 



56 



THE SECOND BUKMESE WAR. 



Towards sunset the Berenice, preceded by the 
Feroze, started for about ten miles up the river to 
procure water. The luxuriant mangrove down to 
the water's edge, was exceedingly striking. Occa- 
sionally you might see a picture of rare beauty : a 
small creek, like a sheet of glass, sleeping among the 
foliage. 

On arrival, we found H. M.'s brig Serpent, and 
other ships at anchor. A party of Europeans were 
at Bassein Creek for the protection of those who 
went to fetch water. All night watering, watering ; 
and very muddy and brackish stuff the water was. 
The water at Aden, and the aqueous delusions at 
various spas and elsewhere, in taste, a perfect joke 
to it. 

April 9th. — This morning we have a good view 
of Bassein Creek — truly, a beautiful spot, A Bur- 
mese house, a long pole with a wooden goose at the 
top of it, pitched near the lofty wooden dwelling, 
betrayed we had come into a strange land. On the 
banks of the noble river a solitary crane was ob- 
served. 

We tow the Juliana, containing the Bengal Com- 
missariat establishment, to Rangoon. She has a 
motley set on board. Some with handsome solemn 

his passage in the Hermes, with one Company of the 40th 
B. !N". I., and followers, and horses, six in number, for the 
mounted officers. The main part of the 40th will embark in 

the Tenasserim" 



THE VOYAGE TO RANGOON. 



57 



faces ; some with broad, grinning mouths, and every 
variety of pugaree some very dirty, some very 
clean : dirty and clean, busy and idle, all packed 
together in a little world. As the steamer ap- 
proached to take her in tow, a difficult business 
commenced. The hawsers would 2:0 wrong ; for a 
time it was " confusion worse confounded ;" but 
time, which sets nearly everything right, at last 
set the Berenice with the Juliana on their way re- 
joicing. About three in the afternoon we were 
rapidly advancing to a new position, some three or 
four miles from Rangoon. Proceeding up the river, 
two stockades in ruins were visible. These had 
been destroyed by the men-of-war : the smoke, ris- 
ing from some huge piles of wood, told a very recent 
tale of demolition. 

The scenery on both banks of the river appeared 
of a novel character : numerous small picturesque 
villages, with scarcely a soul visible. At inter- 
vals, a few fishermen with their canoes were ob- 
servable ; but these vanished on the appearance of 
the Feroze and Berenice, with their transports, as 
if they really believed his Satanic Majesty was after 
them. 

Had a splendid view of the Syriam pagoda in the 
distance — a grand and imposing pile ; as far as some 
of us could observe, like an irregular cone, ela- 
borately gilt. Its elevated position makes it appear 
* Turband. 



58 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



of enormous height. The country about is very- 
irregular ; no hills of any size, but continual eleva- 
tions of ground, thickly studded with trees, resemb- 
ling portions of Southern India. 

About 5 P. M. we anchored a mile or two from 
the Serpent, which useful craft had preceded us, as 
a skilful pioneer. There the wily one now lay at 
her position, the name impressing you with the idea 
that she brooded over mischief to be accomplished. 
The Feroze lay a short way before us, majestic in 
her strength. Here we had been ordered to rest 
until the arrival of the remainder of the fleet. 
From sunset till a late hour, many an eye was 
turned towards Rangoon and the celebrated Shoe 
Dagoon Pagoda. Shoe signifies golden; and 
everything is either yellow or gilt in this part of 
the world. 

April 10th. — Mr. C. M. Crisp, merchant at Ran- 
goon and Moulmein, less than a month ago wrote to 
the Government of India regarding the strong posi- 
tion we were now about to attack. Four months 
since, on the upper terrace of the great pagoda at 
Rangoon, he counted eight pieces of cannon at each 
of the three principal entrances to the same terrace, 
viz., at the south, west, and east; at the north 
entrance only one cannon was placed, making in 
all about twenty-five pieces, three of which were 
eighteen-pounders, the rest may have been from six 
to twelve- pounders. Had heard that a number of 



DEFENCES OF KANGOON. 



59 



swivel-guns were kept in readiness at the pagoda ; 
but never saw any. Along the south front of the 
Temple, at the lower part, a wall had been built by 
order of the late king, with embrasures for cannon ; 
this being the principal entrance, the Burmese 
authorities had taken great trouble to defend it. 
The north side is the weakest point. On the west 
side, a range of go- downs for grain had. been built. 
The bund (rude rampart) enclosing the new town, 
is very similar to the one round the cantonment at 
Moulmein, about fifteen feet high, and twelve feet 
broad at the top ; twenty feet from the bund a 
ditch ran all round, about twenty feet wide, and 
from six to twelve feet deep. Government-house, in 
the new town, was in a state of defence. Mr. Crisp 
counted twelve pieces of cannon in the compound,* 
also two twenty-four pounders. Some guns were 
also at the custom-house and wharf; altogether, he 
considered there might be forty pieces of ordnance 
at Eangoon. 

This forenoon was one of great excitement among 
the majority on board. People doing things in place 
and out of place ; some looking at plans, and examin- 
ing swords and pistols. The deck presented a scene 
of extraordinary animation : many a feature seemed to 
be lighted up with the fire of hope, and the sick and 
the dying victims of that dire pestilence, cholera., 
momentarily revived at the prospect of a contest. 
* Ground surrounding or in front of the mansion. 



60 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



Contrary to our expectations, the head quarters, 
with the remainder of the Fleet, did not arrive so 
early as we expected ; but all were present at dawn 
of the next day, which was Easter Sunday. 



NAVAL OPERATIONS. 



61 



CHAPTEB V, 

NAVAL OPERATIONS BEFORE RANGOON AND DALLA. 

The noble and humane forbearance of the Indian 
Government towards the Burmese has been men- 
tioned in the second chapter of this narrative. But 
more still may be advanced, before recording further 
operations. The Governor- General had written a 
final letter to the King of Ava, through the Com- 
missioner of the Tenasserim Provinces, to be pre- 
sented for despatch to the Governor of Martaban, 
Colonel Bogle, at the time of presenting the letter, 
informed the Burmese functionary, (i that the English 
were sincerely desirous of peace, but that, if a reply 
were not received from Ava by the 1st of April; 
fully agreeing to the terms proposed by the Gover- 
nor-General, our forces would inevitably invade the 
country ; and that the guilt of having provoked the 
war would rest with them." The Burmese officers 
around are said to have replied, that, if we were pre- 
pared for war, so were they ! 



62 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



General Godwin, on his arrival at the Rangoon 
river from Calcutta, immediately sent Captain Lat- 
ter, the interpreter, in the Proserpine to Rangoon, 
with a flag of truce, to inquire if any reply had 
been received from the Court of Ava to the 
Governor-General's letter. On reaching the stock- 
ades, which guarded both banks of the river, the 
steamer was fired on. The cool courage of Com- 
mander Brooking was admirable on this trying occa- 
sion. He not only extricated the Proserpine from 
danger, but blew up a magazine on shore, which in- 
flicted a severe loss on the enemy. The meaning of 
a flag of truce had been explained to them some 
weeks before by Commodore Lambert ; so that no 
pretext for not understanding it would hold for one 
instant. Their firing on the flag was a sure indica- 
tion that the Burmese authorities wished for war ; 
that they would have it at any price : they were now 
about to have it with a vengeance ! " 

Sunday, April Wth. — It had been understood 
among us that no operations would take place before 
Monday. The fulfilment of this resolution, however, 
depended upon circumstances. These fortunately 
tended to expedite matters, as there was no time to 
be lost. 

Yesterday evening, the Phlegethon reconnoitred 
the enemy's works on the river in a cool and intrepid 
manner. This morning, about nine o'clock, the 
Berenice, with the several war-steamers and vessels, 



NAVAL OPERATIONS, 



63 



changed position. Our place was very near the Ser- 
pent. The steam-frigates were to our right, and in 
front, the smaller steamers filling up the picture — 
which was one of imposing grandeur. Firing had 
already proceeded from the direction of Rangoon ; it 
struck us that the Burmese were simply at morning 
practice, in expectation of a coming struggle. The 
General and Admiral now steamed off to look at the 
defences, which had been represented of so formid- 
able a nature. We fully expected to see a shot fired 
at the splendid Rattler, and the other steamers, as 
they seemed to approach the works. The Burmese, 
however, reserved their ammunition. They either 
supposed that we should refrain from attacking them 
on the Sabbath, or deemed it superfluous to employ 
their artillery until our whole force should be arrayed 
in presence of their fortifications, "We watched for 
some time for the first symptom of resistance, and 
watched in vain. 

We beheld the Feroze, under Commodore Lynch, 
moving on, evidently to take up position opposite the 
stockades. With the animated crowd of soldiers on 
her decks, she was a grand picture in motion — a 
"political persuader," with fearful instruments of 
speech, in an age of progress ! Next came the 
Sesostris. At length, the Burmese, unable to stand 
this gradual augmentation of the steam-warriors in 
front of their position, fired at the frigates, and the 
operations began. The Moozuffer, Feroze^ and Se- 



64 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



sostris,* also the Medusa and Phlegethon — the two 
latter, from their drawing little water, approaching 
nearer and nearer the coast — came severally into 
action. The fire from the vessels, Queen's and Com- 
pany's, was kept up with terrific effect against Dalla, 
on our left, and the Rangoon defences on our right. 
At first, the enemy returned the fire with consider- 
able dexterity and precision ; but, shortly after the 
Fox had come up, and poured in her broadside, and 
the Serpent had moved on to destroy, by about eleven 
o'clock the firing on our right almost ceased. How- 
ever, the war-steamers kept on, thundering forth 
against the works on both sides of the river ; utterly 
destroying the stockades on the shore at Rangoon, 
and cannonading Dalla with decided effect. The 
large stockade, south-west of the Shoe Dagoon, was 
set on fire by a well-directed shell, which caused the 
explosion of a powder-magazine ; and, then, all the 
work soon became filled with black smoke and vivid 
flame — up, up to the bright skies ascending, till the 
scene became one of extreme beauty and awful 
grandeur ! At this crisis, an occasional gun was 
heard from the shore. Two or three pieces were 
still observable in the burning stockade; and, as 
no Burmese were visible, some conjectured it to be 
the flame firing them off without orders. 

While the ruined defences on the Rangoon side 

* The Moozujfer, under Captain Hewitt; the Sesostris, 
under Captain Campbell. 



THE ATTACK ON DALLA. 65 

were burning, the town of Dalla, or Dalla Creek, 
became the chief point of attack. A determined 
force had evidently taken up a position in this 
quarter. Several of our shot and shells struck the 
principal pagoda of the place ; but, beyond knocking 
a piece out here and there, with little effect. The 
stockade at Dalla having been silenced, a party of 
seamen and marines, in four boats, effected a landing, 
and took the place by storm. But something must 
be said about this exciting scene. Every one on 
board the fleet had his telescope with him, ready 
to observe with interest the proceedings of the 
attacking party. When the boats emptied their 
loads on the bank, a loud cheer sprung from several 
vessels in the river. The party now rushed boldly 
forward to the stockade : some coolly inspected it 
all round ; some, we could behold, trying to scramble 
over it ; at length, they entered it with little oppo- 
sition, its chief defenders having fled in every direc- 
tion to escape the terrible fire of our guns. One 
unfortunate Burmese soldier, on the approach of the 
naval party, jumped into the water, and swam 
bravely; a few more followed his example, as if 
resolved on becoming targets for practice. The 
works were soon all fired by the destructive exer- 
tions of the soldiers and marines. About 2 p.m., 
the stockade and a portion of the town were wrapped 
in one mighty blaze. The quiet landscape on each 
side of the river became disturbed with the fierce 

F 



66 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



and raging element. The enemy had played upon 
us with guns of considerable size — some of them 
twelve and eighteen -pounders — and, occasionally, 
these were remarkably well laid. The shot flew 
over the decks of the war-steamers ; on board one, 
the Sesostris, a young officer of H. M.'s 51st, # was 
mortally wounded. Several shots struck the vessels : 
the Moozuffer was maimed a little, and the Feroze 
had part of her rigging shot away. According to 
some, <e the fire of the enemy proved fatal to many 
on board the shipping ; " but our casualties were by 
no means numerous on this day. 

These highly successful operations by both the 
Queen's and the Honourable Company's navy — the 
chief work, doubtless, of the 11th having fallen to 
the latter — cleared the coast for nearly a mile, and 
made a splendid landing-place for the troops, who 
were now eager to commence land operations on the 
following morning. The navy had acted as a pioneer 
of true civilization. 

Just a quarter of a century had passed away 
since Lord, Amherst, on the conclusion of the first 
Burmese war, proceeded to the western provinces 
of India, and visited Delhi. He there told the 
King that all vassalage for the British Indian pos- 
sessions, which till then had been acknowledged, was 
at an end. Thus, about seventy years after the 
battle of Plassey, we fairly established ourselves — 
* Ensign Armstrong. 



POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF INVASION. 67 



and the reward was not too great for so much labour 
and enterprise — sole possessors, in every respect, of 
what Macaulay styles, " the magnificent inheritance 
of the house of Tamerlane." # For anything we 
know now, the landing of the troops about to take 
place in Burmah might be the foundation of a new 
empire, which one day may teem with Anglo- 
Saxon industry, and do honour to those who had 
secured the golden inheritance of the descendants of 
Alompra ! 

* Essay on Lord Clive. 



68 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



CHAPTER VI. 



THE LANDING AND ADVANCE — THE WHITE HOUSE 
STOCKADE. 



Monday, April Ylth. — There was little sleep last 
night among many of us ; the excitement attendant 
on preparation for work had kept away its refresh- 
ing influence. About half-past three this morning, 
the decks of the several steamers and vessels were 
crowded with living creatures, all eagerly sharing 
the bustle which invariably precedes the landing of 
troops in an enemy's country. Some of the boats for 
conveyance on shore did not arrive until the morn- 
ing had considerably advanced, and then we beheld 
Surya ascending in full splendour, as if seeking a 
vantage point whence to view the coming fray. The 
river before Rangoon presented an animated scene, 
the like of which had not relieved its monotonous 
aspect for eight- and-twenty years. Boats rowing 
to and fro, steamers changing position ; the detach- 
ments already landed drawn out in martial array ; 



LANDING AT RANGOON. 



69 



here, the boats of the Hermes, with two nine 
pounders, brought to join their companions two 
24-pounder howitzers, from the Lahore ; there, the 
men shouting and working, assisted by the gallant 
tars, as they took each gun from the boat, and set 
it in readiness for the carriage mounted to receive 
it. The troops landed under a well-sustained fire 
from the steamers. The right column consisted of 
EL M.'s 51st, the 18th Koyal Irish, the 40th Bengal 
Native Infantry, and the Sappers and Miners.* 
The Artillery formed in rear of the Brigade. Next 
landed, as soon as boats were available, the wing of 
H. M.'s 80th, and the 35th and 9th Madras Native 
Infantry .f The latter regiment had served in the 
first Burmese war. The order for position appointed 
by the General was quarter-distance column, right in 
front. The ludicrous features of the landing scene 
may be described as follows : — Gruns and carriages 
dismounted, wheels lying here and there, boxes of 
medicine, boxes of shot, rations of beef, powder, 
arrack, and ladders, all in one confused mass, while 

* The 18th Royal Irish were on the right; the 51st 
K. O. L. I. on the left ; and the 40th B. N". I. in the centre. 
The Sappers and Miners were drawn up with their ladders in 
rear of the left flank. The troops were ordered to carry sixty 
rounds of ammunition in their pouches, and all to have one 
day's full rations, ready cooked, with them. 

t The wing of H. M.'s 80th in the centre ; the 9th M. N". I. 
on the right ; and the 35th M. N. I. on the left. 



SKETCH PLAIf 

K A M "(6 ® ® W 



70 THE SECOND BUKMESE WAR. 



the troops moved in the midst of them to form into 
position. 

In contrast to these lively and exciting doings, the 
following melancholy accident may be related : — 
On one occasion, just as Major Montgomery was 
employed, with other officers, in mounting guns, as 
the third detachment of Artillery, some European 
soldiers and a sepoy had recklessly approached the 
smoking ashes of a ruined stockade, quantities of 
loose powder had been left about by the Burmese 
on the previous day ; a portion of this exploded, 
burning the poor fellows in the most dreadful 
manner. Some now thought that the ground we 
stood on was well mined ; a few probably expected 
to be in the air shortly, especially the sepoys ; but 
all was soon lost in some new cause of excitement, 
At intervals, the ships' guns roared forth destruction 
on the town. 

On, on to the Shoe Dagoon was soon the grand 
animating thought of every officer and soldier. The 
General had advanced with the first division that 
landed. His wise plan was to take the circuitous 
route and attack on the eastern side. The old road 
from the river led up to the southern gate of the 
pagoda, through the new town, by which route it 
was generally believed the enemy expected us. But 
events of considerable importance were to take place 
before we got near any gate of Gaudama's splendid 
Temple. Colonel Foord, Commandant of Artillery, 



THE WHITE HOUSE STOCKADE. 



71 



with Major Turton, and Brigade-Major Scott, and 
four Bengal guns under Major Reid, were with the 
General in advance, the guns covered by four Com- 
panies of the 51st Light Infantry. They had not 
proceeded far, however, when, "on opening some 
rising ground to the right," they were fired on by 
the enemy's guns, and immediately afterwards Bur- 
mese skirmishers appeared in the jungle. On this 
audacity, General Godwin, who served in the first 
Burmese campaign, afterwards remarked in his 
despatch, that it was a new mode of fighting with 
the Burmese, "no instance having occurred last 
war of their attacking our flanks, or leaving their 
stockades, that I remember to have taken place." 
They had profited by time, and, perhaps, by Euro- 
pean instruction. 

The enemy's Artillery fire proceeded from a posi- 
tion which was styled the White House Stockade. 
It was a very strong defence, as will be seen here- 
after, and well situated to annoy our advance. 
Lieut. Ford, of the Madras Sappers and Miners, 
had constructed three temporary bridges in a very 
short space of time, which would greatly facilitate 
the progress of more guns required to assist Major 
Reid's battery, which was now in full play against 
the stockade, at a range of about 800 yards. "I 
am sorry to say, sir," remarked an officer to the 
General, " that unless Major Oakes soon comes up, 
we shall not be able to go on. I have but two 



72 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



rounds a gun left." The accuracy of the enemy's 
range was shown by two of the Bengal gunners 
receiving mortal wounds at their guns, from two suc- 
cessive shots. At this critical time, Major Oakes for- 
tunately came up with two 24-pounder howitzers, leav- 
ing the remaining portion of his battery in the rear. 
Colonel Foord told him to open with spherical case 
at a range of 800 yards. The gallant Major, with 
his usual alacrity, drew up in line with the Bengal 
battery, and opened an effective fire on the out- 
work, which he continued until the whole of his 
ammunition was expended. The Bengal guns had 
for some time withdrawn from the line of action, 
until more ammunition should arrive. The heat 
of the sun was now terrific; it gave Major Oakes 
his death-blow just as he was about to fire the 
last gun. 

Shortly before the Artillery ceased firing, a 
storming party was formed from H. M.'s 51st 
K. 0. L. Infantry, and the Sappers and Miners. 
It consisted of four Companies of Europeans, 
Major Fraser, the chief Engineer, with the Sappers 
under Captain Eundall. The third division of lad- 
ders was in the rear under the officer before alluded 
to, as constructing and repairing wooden bridges 
for the passage of the Artillery. After the work 
was finished, he had orders to rejoin the leading 
division. While passing on for that purpose, a 
heavy flanking fire from the left was opened in his 



ATTACK ON THE STOCKADE. 



73 



detachment. This not being returned, the enemy 
became bolder and the fire hotter, so much so, that 
the men were obliged to ground their ladders, un- 
sling carbines, and open a fire on the Burmese 
skirmishers. This silenced them for a while, and 
resuming their ladders, the men marched on with 
all speed. From the continual firing in front, 
it was evident that severe work was going on at 
the stockade. The party moved on with their 
heavy ladders, and passing through a thick wood, 
which screened the place, the officer beheld Lieut. 
Donaldson, of the Bengal Engineers, passing by 
mortally wounded, his pale face lighted up with a 
smile of triumph, although suffering extreme agony. 
On reaching the "White House Stockade,* there were 
to be seen the ladders reared against it, and troops 
crowding up them. Four laddersf went at the 
place in two divisions. 

Closely following the gallant Major Fraser in the 
assault, came Captain Rundall, who mounted the 
ladders about the same time as his superior. The 
storming party immediately carried the stockade; 
but not without considerable loss on our side. The 
brave Captain Blundell, who commanded the leading 
Company of the party, was shot down, and afterwards 
died of his wounds. In him the gallant 51st lost 

* For Supplementary Narrative of, See Appendix No. V. 
t Or more, as four were reared, a fifth broke ; but four were 
enough. 



74 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



an excellent officer — one who had nobly done his 
duty. The Companies of Sappers suffered severely, 
and their bravery was everywhere conspicuous. 
Three of them alone reared a ladder, four more hav- 
ing been shot down beside it. Lieutenant Trevor 
was here wounded, and Lieutenant Williams had a 
narrow escape of his life. The Burmese, on our 
carrying the stockade, fled precipitately ; but many 
of these resolved to give us further trouble in the 
jungles. They left many dead about the place; 
amongst them was a warrior, clad in a red jacket, 
with the buttons of the 50th Regiment on the jacket. 

It was not yet near noon, and the sun had made 
severe havoc among several members of our small 
army. Major Griffiths, Brigade Major of the Ma- 
dras Division, was fatally struck on the field. 
Colonel Foord, Brigadier Warren, commanding the 
Bengal Division, and Colonel St. Maur, H. M.'s 
51st K, O. L. L, were disabled by its over-power- 
ing effects. Many of the European soldiers suf- 
fered, and here and there were to be seen, on the 
ground for the advance, to the left of the White 
House Stockade, the medical officers and their sub- 
ordinates administering relief by pouring cold water 
over the patients. The remaining portion of Major 
Oakes' battery — four 9-pounders — arrived from the 
shore shortly after that gallant officer was struck. 
Next came Major Montgomery's battery,* with the 
* Two 24-pounder howitzers, and two 9-pounders. 



DEATH OF MAJOR OAKES. 



75 



D Company 3rd Battalion of the Madras Artillery, 
which had done good service in China. Major 
Back, commanding, with Lieutenant and Adjutant 
Harrison, accompanied this division of the corps. 
Captain Cooke with the D Company 2nd Bat- 
talion, had already made some excellent practice 
with his rockets, while, and after the Artillery fired 
on the stockade, clearing the jungles on the left, 
and thereby saving us for some time considerable 
trouble and annoyance. 

Among the wounded in the early operations, may 
be mentioned Captain Allan, Quarter-Master Ge- 
neral to the Force, and Colonel Bogle, Commis- 
sioner of the Tenasserim Provinces. The former 
was shot in the calf of the leg, and the latter in the 
knee. 

Reposing in a shady spot, a small number of 
officers caught the attention of the passer-by. Two 
of them, it seemed highly probable, would recover 
from their misfortunes. But, on the face of Major 
Oakes, death had set his seal. Several were 
around him rendering every possible assistance, 
while the tear of sorrow fell from even those who 
liked him not too well. 

The Artillery were now commanded not to ad- 
vance till further orders, and after a good deal of 
sharp skirmishing, as the day drew to a close, a 
general cessation of operations took place. All 
now began to prepare for a night's bivouac on the 



76 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



field. In the evening it was whispered among us, 
that our Director of the Depot was dead ! that he 
who, since being appointed to command a Service 
Company, had shown an amount of zeal for the 
high efficiency of that Company, seldom, if ever, 
surpassed — who, a few hours before, had rejoiced in 
a triumphant might — was now ranked among the 
fallen. He had been taken into the general hos- 
pital, on the beach, where he died. The gallant 
deceased was in the forty-third year of his age. 
In person, Major Oakes rose above the ordinary 
stature Six feet one inch, in height, with a chest 
of uncommon breadth, a striking military deport- 
ment, and a countenance betraying a restless am- 
bition, wherever he went he could not escape ob- 
servation. Aut Ccesar aut nullus, might be read in 
his pale, hard features. He had entered the Madras 
Artillery under the old regime, upwards of a quarter 
of a century ago, about the time when our first war 
with Burmah formed a subject of general interest 
throughout the British dominions. Towards the end 
of the year 1827, Majors Oakes and Montgomery were 
riding-masters to the Horse Brigade. The former re- 
visited Europe in 1829 on account of ill-health. On 
his return to India, he was for ten or twelve years 
Adjutant of the Horse Artillery, was next appointed 
Assistant Adjutant-General of Artillery, and event- 
ually Director of the Artillery Depot of Instruction 
at St. Thomas's Mount. Thus, in his profession, 



CHARACTER OF MAJOR OAKES. 77 



did he climb a considerable distance up " the steep 
where Fame's proud temple shines afar ! " He was 
great in all matters of drill, and was conspicuous as 
the man who gave the regiment an entire system of 
manoeuvres. His publications on that subject were 
recently acknowledged by the Honourable Court of 
Directors, who rewarded him for his services. * 

Major Oakes was not, in the ordinary sense, a 
man of genius ; the creative faculty was in him but 
slightly developed. But he was gifted with great 
energy, and was remarkable for his untiring in- 
dustry. Well-directed labour, steadily continued, 
is a rare virtue in India, where climate and the 
absence of any powerful motive for exertion, in- 
duce languid habits. He, therefore, who shakes off 
the lethargy, and toils assiduously, may, without a 

* Fort St. George, 18th March, 1851.— Extract from letter 
from Hon. Court of Directors. Milit. Depot, dated 20th Jan. 
1851 ; published for the information of the army. Para. 1. — 
Captain Oakes having completed nine works, all of which 
have been introduced by authority into the Madras army, 
and are considered to complete the code of regulations 
and instructions for the Artillery of the Madras Presidency. 
The Commander-in-Chief has observed that the compilation of 
these works cannot have been accomplished without consider- 
able expense on Capt. Oakes' part, and has recommended him 
for such a token of our approbation and reward as we may see 
fit to grant. As a mark of our approbation of Capt. Oakes' 
services, in preparing these works for publication, we have re- 
solved to present him with 2,000 rupees. — See Appendix No. 4. 



78 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



glimmering of genius, acquire a pre-eminence even 
over those of his fellow-men who may be more 
highly endowed by Nature. In this way may we 
account for the position Major Oakes wrought for 
himself. Through his efforts the Madras Artillery 
was presented with several very useful works, and 
he will long be remembered and mourned by the 
profession at large as one of its most useful 
members. 

After the White House Stockade was taken, and 
picquets had been placed in front, a good oppor- 
tunity was presented for examining the work. A 
vast quantity of ammunition was found in the place. 
The grape was of the usual barbarous description, 
common among some of the hill- tribes of India: 
badly shaped iron bullets or bits of iron, closely 
packed in a canvass bag, dipped in dammer. Into 
a well outside, all the ammunition that could be 
found was thrown. The work, for a Burmese one, 
was very strong, and they had evidently taken much 
trouble in its construction. In the last war the 
"White House" was surrounded by a brick wall, 
which this time they again surrounded with a stock- 
ade, at a distance of about ten feet, filling the inter- 
val with rammed earth. This formed a good parapet, 
to which they gave a reverse slope, so as to get up 
and mount their guns on it. Some excellent guns 
were found of iron and brass ; two of the latter kind 
were deemed handsome enough afterwards to be 



CONTENTS OF THE STOCKADE. 79 



sent to Calcutta. The work had on its front face 
an insignificant ditch. In the centre of the little 
fort was the " White House," from which the place 
took its name. It was approached at one end only 
by a steep flight of steps, and within, at the further 
end, was placed a colossal figure of Gaudama. A 
great deal of ammunition was found scattered about 
this central building. After the place was burned 
by the Engineers and Sappers, the same night the 
entire roof of the house was destroyed, and the huge 
figure seen from a distance, overtopping the shell 
of the ruined mansion, had an extraordinary effect. 
All the outside wood- work of the place was also 
destroyed by fire, so that the parapet became ex- 
posed ; consequently, had the enemy attempted to 
retake the stockade, we could have swept them from 
the face of the earth, or say, the top of it, in various 
ways. A Burmese warrior, who had been severely 
wounded, must have acquired some idea of British 
kindness towards an enemy, when a high officer 
patted him on the back, to reassure him of our pro- 
tection, while others gave him water, and he was 
allowed with his wife and relations, who had sought 
him out, to leave the stockade and go peacefully 
away. 

The " White House Picquet " — so called in the 
last war — was well situated for an out-post. The 
enemy knew every inch of the ground we should 
necessarily pass over to get at them; and it is 



80 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



highly probable they had practised for some time 
with ranges to bear upon certain points, which 
may account for their accuracy of fire in the 
morning. The fort being situated on slightly rising 
ground, a picturesque view inland was afforded : 
at about a mile and a half distant, was a small 
village, somewhat concealed by wooden ruins, to 
which considerable numbers of the enemy retreated. 

Allusion has already been made to the Burmese 
skirmishers. It was amusing enough to see them 
chevied through the bushes, across the plain, where 
the Artillery were drawn up, by the European 
soldiers. Crack! crack! crack! — away they ran, 
as fast as their heels could carry them! But the 
retreat of many was only temporary. Towards 
dusk, they showed themselves in front of our camp ; 
but a few rounds of canister quickly drove them 
back into their jungles. An officer who kept a 
journal writes, on this eventful 12th of April, 
i{ There can be no doubt that Europeans are in the 
service of His Golden-footed Majesty. A European 
Portuguese was taken prisoner ; and I am told he is 

now on board the Admiral's vessel. Conductor H , 

of the Sappers, picked up, in one of the stockades, 
the first volume of a work on anatomy, and an- 
other on steam-navigation, both in English ; and I 
heard him say, that there were plates, tumblers, and 
wine-glasses there." The same amusing chronicler 
likewise consigns our worthy Brigade-Major to im- 



THE CAMP AND BIYOUAC. 



81 



mortal fame in the following passage : — " A report 
is afloat, that Captain Scott, of the Madras Artillery, 
recognized a renegade of that corps, named Govin, 
in the ranks of the enemy, clad in Burmese uniform, 
and immediately shot him dead. This man is re- 
ported to have been an able artillery-man, and had 
got up light field-trains, drawn by Pegu ponies. 
It is strange, that the moment he was laid low, the 
Burmese Artillery fell into confusion, and our men 
took the stockade from which the enemy were 
dealing out death on every side." 

No man seemed to bear the fatigues of the day 
better than the gallant General ; he was busy every- 
where, animating the troops by his presence. He 
came forward, and expressed his sorrow to Colonel 
Foord — who had slightly recovered — for the accident 
which had befallen him. About this time, he said, 
regarding the conduct of the Burmese that day, that 
they had acted boldly and well, beyond all expecta- 
tion. At night, "the force bivouacked on the 
open plain, without tents or covering of any descrip- 
tion, for officers or men. During the night, the 
enemy fired once on the camp with musketry, but 
did not otherwise molest us." # There may be more 
disagreeable things in life than sleeping beside a 
howitzer, on some straw, to escape as much dew 
as possible, after a hard day's work under a burning 

* Major Back's Eeport to the Brigadier Commandant of 
Artillery. 

G 



82 



THE SECOND BUEMESE WAR. 



sun ; getting up at intervals for duty ; and washing 
in the morning out of a gun-bucket. 

The alarm, when the camp had gone to rest, led 
some to suppose that the White House Stockade 
was about being re-occupied ; but it turned out to 
be only the flickering blaze from some smouldering 
timbers, which looked as if people were moving 
about with lights. Their conjectures were ground- 
less. The White House Picquet, or what remained 
of it, was speedily becoming a blackened ruin, 
which it would take much trouble and time to the 
Burmese again to put in a proper state of defence. 

The night of the 12th of April will long be 
remembered by many of the force. Towards the 
new town, and the great Shoe Dagoon, fire continued 
to spread through the darkness — observing which 
formed amusement for the weary who could not 
sleep. It proceeded from the steamers and men-of- 
war pouring their destructive fire into the town. 
Huge hollow shot and carcasses were continually 
projected, doing fearful execution. Sometimes the 
effect, from our camp, was terribly sublime. It 
seemed as if many a wrathful deity were, like 
Vishnu, hurling the fiery discus through the air ! 



THE GRAND ADVANCE. 



83 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE GRAND ADVANCE ON THE SHOE DAGOON 
PAGODA. 

Tuesday, the 13th of April, was a busy day in 
camp. * In addition to the Artillery already up", 
four eight-inch iron howitzers were required by the 
General for the grand advance on the great Pagoda. 
This was fixed for the morrow, when, many be- 
lieved, from what had already been experienced, 
the enemy would make a desperate resistance. The 
whole of this day was employed in disembark- 
ing and taking into camp these noble pieces of 
ordnance. The Naval Brigade rendered us the 
most hearty assistance in this arduous task. 

At one spot on the field might be seen a knot of 
artillerymen, under some zealous officer, cutting and 
fixing fusees ; at another, the Infantry cleaning and 
examining their trusty percussion muskets and 

* Situated about one mile from the beach, and, by the route 
we took two from the Pagoda. 



84 



THE SECOND BUEMESE WAR. 



bayonets, the best Infantry weapon after all; at 
another, a cluster of talkers, very eloquent some of 
them, discussing the operations of the previous 
day; the sun, apparently, being quite disregarded in 
the zeal of a wordy contest. In the shade — and a 
good deal was afforded by the surrounding jungles — 
the thermometer stood considerably above one hun- 
dred degrees. 

The King of Ava, no doubt, all this time, believed 
that, through the re-agency of such troops as those 
composing " Shway-Pee Hman-Geen," or the Mir- 
ror of the Golden Country — a body of lloyal 
Guards — and other bodies equally well gilt, the 
English would soon be driven into the river ; and 
that then the Tenasserim Provinces would be taken 
from us, and even Calcutta might become submissive 
to the Golden Feet ! " On the night of the 13th," 
writes an intelligent Armenian, # one of the op- 
pressed, " orders came to send us up to the great 
Pagoda. We were accordingly conveyed thither in 
files of ten men, three Armenians and seven Mussul- 
men. Rockets and shells f poured down on every 
side. Our escape must solely be ascribed to the 
mercy of Providence. To have escaped from the 
shells, some of which burst near us — from the Go- 
vernor's hand, and the hands of the Burmese sol- 

* Englishman, June 7th. — A plain but authentic account, 
tending to assist in the composition of a history, 
f From the shipping. 



THE FLIGHT OF THE AKMENIANS. 



85 



diery, that had already commenced pillaging the new 
town— must be set down as a miracle. However, 
two files of our comrades had scarcely gone, when 
the guard placed over us thought it prudent to save 
themselves from the impending danger by flight i 
yet their chief stood with his drawn sword. We 
shekoed, * prayed, and conjured him to save his life 
and ours. In my long experience of the Burmese 
generally, I have never found them wantonly cruel 
in nature. It is the system of the insane Govern- 
ment of Ava that produces monsters. So the man 
released us, and, with good grace, after seeing us 
depart, departed himself also. We at first returned 
to our abodes, but found them uninhabitable. A 
portion of the houses in the new town were in a blaze 
from the rockets. We then thought of our safety : 
some tried to escape to the river-side — they fell 
among the Burmese soldiery, were maltreated, 
stripped even of their upper garments, and obliged 
to return, and hide themselves under a Kioun ; *j- 
others took shelter under the foot of the great 
Pagoda, and a few disguised got safely out of the 
town through the kind assistance of their Burmah 
friends. This night was a night of flight." 

We have been informed that, shortly before the 
fleet arrived, the Governor called a sort of Cabinet 
Council together, to deliberate over the probability 

* Salaamed, or made salutation, 
f Poongee, or priest-house. 



86 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



of beating back the English. An old and respected 
inhabitant of Rangoon, who remembered the last 
war, and many years before it, was called on to give 
his opinion. The old man was afraid to speak out 
what he thought would be the result; but being 
pressed to do so, as there was no fear he would suffer 
for telling the truth, he declared that the British, on 
account of their superior skill and discipline, would 
certainly be victorious. "With them," said he, 
"one mind guides all; with the Burmese, each 
guides himself in the fight ; what if we have fifty to 
one, the Europeans will conquer ! " The fine old 
fellow was immediately ordered to be branded, and 
otherwise tortured, for his candour. 

An idea of the strength of new Rangoon may be 
gathered from the fact that the new town, already 
mentioned, upwards of a mile from the river, was 
described as u nearly a square, with a bund, or mud 
wall, about sixteen feet high and eight broad; a 
ditch runs along each side of the square, and on the 
north side, where the Pagoda stands, it has been 
cleverly worked into the defences, to which it forms 
a sort of citadel." 

Wednesday morning beheld the force moving on. 
The troops were certainly in the finest temper for 
dealing with the enemy. The halt of yesterday had 
refreshed them considerably, notwithstanding the 
intense heat ; and recollection of the 12th prompted 
them to double exertion, if such were possible, to- 



THE ADVANCE TO THE PAGODA. 87 



day. [The author was with the D Company, 3rd 
Battalion of Artillery, in reserve.] 

H. M.'s 80th Eegiment, with four guns of Major 
Montgomery's battery, * formed the advance, covered 
by skirmishers. About seven o'clock, the sound 
of musketry fell upon the ear. It seemed to those 
composing the reserved force in rear to proceed from 
the dark jungles, through which our march lay. 
The troops in our front had come into action ; and 
the enemy were being driven before the fire of the 
European and Native Infantry. But this was not 
effected without some loss, as several doolies, -f with 
their wounded, which passed by us, clearly testified. 

The sound of artillery, from a Madras battery, 
likewise told that the guns were in position. 

Major Montgomery, having brought one nine- 
pounder, and a 24-pounder howitzer into a favour- 
able position, had opened fire at a distance of about 
700 yards from the stockade. Passing on through 
the jungly way, we at length came within range of 
the enemy's jingals, which appeared to fire at us 
from beside a small pagoda. A succession of well- 
directed shots were now launched against the re- 
served force, in rear of which the heavy eight-inch 
howitzers were being nobly brought along by the 

* The A Company, 4th Battalion, so recently commanded 
by his friend, Major Oakes. 

f Rudely constructed palankeens, for carrying sick and 
wounded. 



88 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



gallant Naval Brigade. Our guns inclined to the 
right, and halted to make way for the coming young 
giants of ordnance — all the while, the fire proceeding 
from the enemy near the small pagoda by no means 
abating. 

Again we marched on, and came upon a large 
body of our troops, the Europeans, with fixed 
bayonets, as if ready for an attack as soon as a 
breach could be made. The 40th Bengal Native In- 
fantry were likewise in this position, a petty midan, * 
sheltered by a small hill covered with jungle. Shot 
from the Burmese guns, as well as jingals, fell fast 
and thick upon the plain. The troops wisely re- 
mained under cover of the hill, passing an occasional 
remark on the correct range the enemy had attained, 
as shot after shot bounded along only a few yards 
before us ; and then would come a jingal, with its 
strange whistling sound, over your head, making 
a man thankful he was not quite so tall as men 
are represented in ancient writ. In spite of all 
philosophy, such music must sound very strange to 
all ears, for the first time ! At length, the greater 
portion of the Infantry moved on. 

The D Company's 3rd Battalion Battery, f under 
Captain Cooke, was ordered to remain in the old 

* Plain. 

t Madras Artillery. With this battery, Lieut. Bridge re- 
mained. Lieut. Onslow was occupied at the beach in landing 
stores and anununition. 



BURMESE ARTILLERY PRACTICE. 89 



position till required. Certainly, it is galling to be 
under fire, without any order to advance ; and such 
was our case for about four hours. It was amusing 
enough to observe the cattle attached to the guns, 
while the shot continued to fly about. Strange to 
say, not one bullock of the reserve battery was 
struck, nor did they seem to be at all affected by 
the firing of the determined enemy ! 

The Burmese soon got the range more exact than 
ever. Probably guessing that some of the troops 
were under cover of the small hill, they gave less 
elevation, when their shot fell very near us, and the 
jingals continued to whistle with fearful rapidity. 
An intelligent Bengal officer, who had been engaged 
in several of the great Punjaub battles, declared to 
us that he had not, on those occasions, " bobbed " his 
head as much as he had done to-day. At length, 
the range of one of the enemy's guns entirely 
differed from the previous practice ; which led us to 
believe that the devoted warrior, who had shown so 
much skill, was no more. 

Major Montgomery's battery had, no doubt, done 
considerable execution. # It may have laid the afore- 

* After firing a few rounds, Major Montgomery left those 
pieces — the 9 -pounder, and 24-pounder howitzer — under the 
charge of 2nd Lieut. Lloyd, who kept up a well-directed and 
spirited fire from them, during the whole time the action 
lasted. Major Montgomery then placed the other three 
9-pounders of his battery in another position, about a quarter 



90 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



said warrior low. The gallant Major himself came 
past us while the jingals were flying, his Lascar 
orderly following him. A spent ball struck the un- 
fortunate orderly in the forehead, when he imme- 
diately fell, but not dead, as at first supposed. 

About this time, our Assistant- Surgeon, Dr. Smith, 
was slightly wounded. A tar of the Naval Brigade 
we also saw struck while giving assistance in bring- 
ing along a heavy gun ; and several others, European 
and native, were wounded near the spot we occupied. 
The 9th M. N. I. had gallantly driven back a 
body of Burmese skirmishers in our rear. 

At about 10 a.m., the heavy howitzer battery, 
under Major Back, manned by the Bengal Artillery, 
was, after great labour, brought into position. # We 
were delighted to hear the howitzers sounding forth 
in the advance, as they opened fire against the great 
stockade. This continued about one hour and a half, 
under a very galling and well-directed fire from the 

of a mile to the right of the first one. Lieut. Tayler, and 2nd 
Lieut. Blair, had each of them charge of a piece in this 
position, which they served with precision and effect. 

* But for the valuable assistance of Lieut. Dorville, of 
H. M.'s ship Rattler, with a party of 120 seamen, we could 
scarcely have got the heavy howitzers into position, and to 
them also we are chiefly indebted for disembarking them on the 
previous day. — Major Back's Eeport. The two howitzers on 
the right were under the charge of Capt. Malloch, of the Ben- 
gal Artillery. 



THE STORMING PARTY. 



91 



enemy's guns and wall-pieces, from which our troops 
suffered considerably. The artillery operations of 
the Wednesday were under the direction of Major 
Turton, of the Bengal Army, whose accustomed zeal 
was fully displayed throughout. Colonel Foord had 
not recovered from the coup de soleil in time to proceed 
with the force ; nothing could have disappointed him 
more. 

It may be mentioned that, just before the heavy 
guns were dragged into position, Major Turton told 
Lieutenant Ashe, of the Bengal Artillery, to take 
his gun, a 24-pounder howitzer, to the left of the 
heavy battery, to dislodge some Burmese skirmishers 
from the bushes in front. This was the only Bengal 
light field-gun engaged that day ; and it was highly 
necessary, as those determined skirmishers were fast 
closing in on the crowded mass of our troops, who 
with great difficulty kept down their fire. 

At about half-past eleven, Captain Latter, the 
Interpreter, proposed to the General an attack on 
the eastern entrance of the great Pagoda ; for ten of 
our troops now being killed or disabled, we would 
lose but one with a storming-party ; which would 
naturally draw off the enemy's attention, and excite 
their surprise. This sensible advice was by no means 
disregarded. 

Eventually, Captain Latter asked General God- 
win's permission to lead the storming-party. The 
gallant General replied, " With the greatest pleasure, 



92 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



my dear friend ! " This reply was quite characteristic 
of our brave and courteous Commander. 

The storming-party was formed of the wing of 
H. M.'s 80th, under Major Lockhart, two Compa- 
nies of the 18th Royal Irish, under Lieutenant. 
Hewitt, and two Companies of the 40th Bengal 
Native Infantry, under Lieutenant White ; the whole 
commanded by Colonel Coote, of the 18th Eoyal Irish, 
Captain Latter leading. From the elevated position 
— on which were our heavy guns — to the Pagoda is 
a sort of valley to be crossed before reaching the 
eastern entrance ; the distance might be about eight 
hundred yards. The hill on which the great temple 
stands is divided into three terraces, each defended 
by a brick and mud rampart. * There are four flights 
of steps up the centre of each terrace, three of which 
are covered over; the east, south, and west. On 
went our gallant troops, crossing over to the Pagoda 
in the most steady manner, under a heavy and 
galling fire from the enemy on the walls. At length, 
they reached the desired gate, which was imme- 
diately pushed open. Captain Latter had beheld 
Lieutenant and Adjutant Doran, of H. M.'s 18th 
Eoyal Irish, rather in advance of his proper position : 
on being spoken to, we believe he said that his 

* Their heavy guns were on the upper terrace ; their light 
ones on the second and third. The rampart of the upper 
terrace, being mostly of bricks and mortar, is of a superior de- 
scription. 



of the 

$ T Q Q K A & E 

ami 

KZEKCES AM>UM) TITO , 

at 



Zient? .BajnettJwroL . 

MADRAS SAPPERS. 





J 

- 



•Sfi^se -Dagcn Paxicd,a 



qrontt tfijtjhgcda, Walk. 



CAPTUKE OF THE SHOE DAGOON. 93 



regiment was in rear. Now, a grand rush was made 
up the long flight of steps they had discovered. 
The storming - party, however, suffered from the 
shower of balls and bullets which immediately came 
down upon them with dreadful effect ; but nothing 
could ever check the determined rush of British 
Infantry ! Near the foot of the steps fell Lieutenant 
Doran, mortally wounded ; and by his side fell also 
two men of his regiment. The young hero lay 
pierced by four balls. Colonel Coote was also 
wounded. But our troops nobly gained the upper 
terrace. A deafening cheer rent the air ! The 
Burmese defenders fled in all directions before the 
British bayonet. The Shoe Dagoon, or say, (e Dagon 
the Great," had fallen for the second time into our 
hands ! The blow had been struck ; the first grand 
act of the drama was over ! 

" On the 14th," writes the Armenian, " there were 
but a few thousand Shwaydown and Padown men, 
say about five thousand in all, that kept to their post- 
on the Pagoda, under the immediate command of the 
Governor. They held out until noon, when the 
Governor, in despair, gave orders to retreat, himself 
setting the example of flight. His men, distin- 
guished by their gilt hats, remained to the last. 
They stood the first onset of the British, and then 
fled to the west ; " that is, towards Kemmendine. 
<e Had there been a brigade of cavalry, or a division 
of troops, at the north-west, the Governor could not 



94 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



have escaped. He had, a few days previously, de- 
spatched his plunder to his country Shwaydown, in 
charge of one of his trusty relatives. Thus dis- 
persed the grand army of Rangoon, computed at about 
20,000 strong at the beginning, some of whom did 
not even exchange a shot with the English, and 
many were driven away by the rockets and shells." 

The reserved force moved on. A loud cheer from 
the advance made us long to get near the heavy 
guns. There was enough in that hearty cheer to tell 
that Rangoon was entirely in the British possession. 
Having proceeded a short distance, the battery 
halted in rather dense jungle. There, among other 
sights, we beheld three of the 40th B. N. I. lying 
dead on a bank — all three, including a bullock, 
having: been struck down with a shot from one of 
the enemy's eighteen-pounders. Ascending a little, 
we found the four eight-inch guns in position ; * and 
a good view of the piece of country at the base of 
the Shoe Dagoon was presented, to all appearance, 
jungly and confined. We were now informed that 
the General and his Staff had entered the Pagoda. 

* Lieut, and Adjt. Voyle, of the Bengal Artillery, in addi- 
tion to commanding a howitzer, had cut and set many of the 
fuzes for these guns, which had now done their duty. Brigade 
Major Scott, Madras Artillery, was observed doing everything 
in his power to encourage the gunners, as they worked under a 
heavy fire. Lieut, and Adjt. Harrison, M. A., is likewise 
reported by Major Back as most active in pointing and com- 
manding one of the eight-inch howitzers. 



BURMESE ARMS AND EQUIPMENT. 95 

After our Europeans had refreshed themselves 
with a little tea — and nothing is more refreshing on 
the field — the Artillery* were ordered to proceed in 
a southerly direction, and take up quarters where 
they best could till the morrow. These were on the 
cold ground, as on the two previous nights. To get 
thither, we had a short march through the jungle, 
and while passing along, we frequently came across 
a Burmese soldier who lay dead, with a look of 
determination, and a smile of apparent contempt on 
his countenance. Curious enough, many of them 
had adopted a sort of red jacket as a portion of their 
costume ; this had been frequently a source of con- 
fusion to our troops, who could with difficulty dis- 
tinguish them from our own skirmishers. The Bur- 
mese muskets were old flint ones from England, 
" condemned," the excuse for their being sold to 
our enemies, and with the dah or dhar — a sharp, 
square-pointed sword with a long wooden handle; 
and with other weapons, such as a British bayonet 
stuck on the handle of a spear, the Burmese Infantry 
equipments were found to be tolerably complete. 
It may be mentioned that the enemy's musket-ball 
was found to be considerably smaller than ours, 
composed of iron as well as lead, not cast in a 
mould, but rough and varying in size. 

Towards the south side of the pagoda we passed a 



* Covered by the 40th B. N. I. 



96 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



Pongee house in ruins. Gaudamas of huge size gazed 
upon the stranger with beneficent countenance, as if 
they were giving him a hearty welcome to the new 
land. A huge tree, lying across the road, was 
speedily cut asunder, to make way for the light 
field-guns ; after a short period a portion of the 
heavy battery arrived. When the guns were all 
in position, preparations were made for the night's 
bivouac. Beside our halting-place we found a fine 
tank and well. Many had never before enjoyed a 
bathe or a wash so much as they did upon this 
occasion. After a comfortable night's rest in the 
open air, in the morning we moved into a Pongee- 
house for breakfast. 

Some necessary stores for hot weather campaigning 
had found their way to us through the faithful fol- 
lowers, who, since the capture of the Great Pagoda, 
had been streaming forth to the camp, some of them, 
during the early part of the day, having nearly 
fainted from fear, while performing their philan- 
thropic duties, as the enemy's bullets flew about 
rather too near to be agreeable. Where we now 
were stood various ruins of the new town. The 
remainder of the force passed the night in the 
covered entrances and immediate vicinity of the 
pagoda. By the route we had come, it was ex- 
pected there would be no very great difficulty in 
placing our guns on the ramparts for the defence of 
Guadama's Temple. 



THE FIRST BURMESE WAR. 



97 



A few particulars regarding the occupation of 
Rangoon by the British, in the first Burmese war, 
may be interesting at this stage of our narrative. 

The Court of Ava had never dreamed of the sudden 
blow about to be aimed against the southern pro- 
vinces, and maritime commercial capital of the Bur- 
mese empire. At this time, # there was no actual 
Governor (Myo-woon) in Rangoon. A subordinate 
officer, styled Rewoon, exercised the chief authority 
in the town. 

On receiving intelligence of the arrival of a large 
fleet of ships at the mouth of the Rangoon river — 
ships of unusual size and belonging to the British — 
" this unfortunate barbarian became almost beside 
himself with wonder, consternation, and rage." His 
first order ran thus — "English ships have brought 
foreign soldiers to the mouth of the river. They are 
my prisoners ; cut me some thousands of spans of 
rope to bind them." 

He next ordered the seizure of all the English 
residents in Rangoon. The order extending to all 
those " who wore the English hat," American mis- 
sionaries, American merchants, and other foreign 
adventurers, were confined in the same building 
with five British merchants, a ship-builder, and two 
pilots. They were immediately loaded with fetters, 
and otherwise cruelly treated. 

At length the fleet came in sight of a " consider- 
* May, 1824. 

H 



98 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



able Asiatic town." This seemed to be encircled by 
a rampart of solid timber from fifteen to twenty 
feet in height, pierced with embrasures. Boats of 
various sizes and shapes lay moored along the banks 
of the river; on these were constructed wharfs, jet- 
ties, and landing-places. Clumps of light green 
forest occupied the plains around. 

They were everywhere decorated with the glided 
spires of pagodas. Above them all, on a height at 
some distance, was seen the grand monument, which 
had first attracted remark. But attention was now 
fixed by the defences of the town. A Burman stock- 
ade had been the theme of wonder and curiosity for 
weeks and months at either Presidency. It was to 
try its mettle against this redoubted species of work 
that the army had sailed. Hence, as each ship 
neared the town, the first glance towards the em- 
brasures produced a murmur of deep interest amongst 
the troops. " There it is, at last ; the stockade, the 
stockade of Rangoon."* The landing took place on 
the 11th of May, 1824. 

The enemy heard the roar of that cannonade which 
covered the landing of the troops. The streets were 
swept with cannon-shot from the fleet. The Re- 
woon abandoned himself to his fears. (e He mounted 
a horse, and hurried through the south-eastern gate 
into the country, followed in confused flight by the 
armed rabble he had collected." Terror reigned in 
* Havelock's Campaigns in Ava, p. 26. 



OCCUPATION OF KANCOON. 



99 



the town. (( Burman, Peguer, Portuguese, Parsee, 
Moguls, and Chinese, male and female, young and 
old, followed by the rushing sound of eighteen and 
thirty-two pounder shot, fled like frightened deer to 
the neighbouring forests."* When the troops were 
fairly landed, several of the unhappy prisoners were 
released. The reason of four of them had given 
way. Major Sale, afterwards the hero of Jellalabad, 
found Mrs. Judson, of missionary celebrity, tied to a 
tree, and immediately released her. 

The troops took possession of a town scarcely 
tenanted by a living being. With regard to the 
disposition of the troops in Rangoon during the first 
war, we read that the Brigade from Bengal had its 
right supported in the direction of the town, and its 
left on the great Temple. The troops from Madras 
rested their right on n Shooe-da-gong-praw," and 
their left on the town.f Their houses were wooden 
dwellings of the priests, convents or monasteries, 
the abodes of pilgrims, under the arched recesses 
of shrines, and in the square chambers of temples. 
All of these abounded in either road. The army 
in 1852 found little or no difference in this re- 
spect. 

And now let us return to our second visit to 
Rangoon and the Shoe Dagoon Pagoda. With re- 

* Page 33. 

f Four miles were occupied by the force, with a continuous 
chain of sentries. 



100 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



gard to the Burmese troops at first opposed to us, 
the " Armenian" of 1852 gives the following informa- 
tion: — These had commenced pouring down upon 
Rangoon from different towns and villages since the 
seizure of the King of Ava's ship, Helen, the golden 
apple, and a large army arrived from Amrupura 
itself. They were all in high spirits, and were em- 
ployed in erecting the stockade round the mud wall 
or fort, which they finished in the short space of two 
months. " They even fortified the king's old wharf, 
the roof of which was constructed like a vat about 
two feet deep, and filled with water to extinguish 
the shells and rockets that might fall on it." But 
their magazine, in large jars, ranged in rows on each 
side, having, as before stated, caught fire on the 
11th, blew this one of their seven wonders into the 
air, at the same time killing many men on duty. 
Before the works had been completed, a portion of 
the Burmese army became dispirited by over-fatigue 
and disease. " Many determined not to fight the 
English, and they stuck to their determination. 
Shway-Pee Hman-Geen, or the Mirror of the Golden 
Country, a body of Boyal Guards stationed at the 
south and west, were the first to set the example on 
the first day of the fight." 

Some curious Burmese plans were discovered in a 
magazine by our excellent and talented Commissary 
of Ordnance, Captain Kobertson, of the Bengal 
Artillery. Some square feet of a compressed black 



BURMESE PLAXS AXD RETURNS. 



101 



substance, as usual in this country, took the place 
of cloth or drawing-paper, and the drawing was 
produced by means of a sort of hard chalk and a 
ruler. This we believe to be the common mode of 
planning in Burmah. One of the plans in question 
minutely exhibited the stockade, also gave in Bur- 
mese the strength of each detachment, with its de- 
signation, told off for its defence The following is 
a translation of the writing, from which it would 
appear the Burmese think there is more in a name 
than we dream of in our philosophy : — 

THE BURMESE GARRISON OF RANGOON. 



Men. 

1. The Dennobhew City Contingent . . . .500 

2. The Golden Palm Royal Boat's crew . . .500 

3. The Kanaung City Contingent .... 600 

4. The Kyanghan „ „ 250 

5. ThePadowng „ „ 300 

6. The Iharawatty „ „ ... 430 

7. The Mean Owng „ „ 250 

8. The Oakpho Fort „ 150 

9. The Kanaung City „ . . . . .300 

10. The Laing „ „ 500 

11. The Iharawatty Golden Flower Royal Boat's crew . 439 

12. The Little Chempa . . . . „ . .122 

13. The Ihavawa Golden Palm . . „ .60 

14. The Henthada City Contingent . . . .267 

15. The Great Hill Royal Boat's Crew . .130 

16. The Water Fowl „ . . .119 

17. The Golden Parrot „ ... 65 

18. The Rethey Braminy Goose „ ... 76 



102 



THE SECOND BUKMESE WAR. 



19. The Great Cormorant Royal Boat's Crew . . 100 

20. The Ragook Braminy Goose „ ... 51 

21. The Great Cormorant „ ... 81 

22. The Great Golden Mass „ ... 100 

23. The Chief Cormorant „ ... 100 

24. The Shouy Downg City „ ... 130 

25. The Chief Golden Mass „ ... 60 

26. The Blue Cloud „ ... 55 

27. The Ihainethaga City Contingent ... 50 

28. The Banyan Tree Township „ ... 100 

29. The Dennobhew City „ ... 100 

30. The Mean Oung City „ ... 250 

31. The Oakpho Uneven Swamp „ ... 150 

32. The Keng City „ ... 250 

33. The Padowng City „ ... 200 
White House Picquet and Village of Pewsendown 2,500 



Total 9,335 

Each man with two baskets of rice and a piece of silver. 



Gates. Gates. 



1. 


North Gate. 


8. Banyan Tree Gate. 


2. 


Shoury Gyeen Gate. 


9. Smith's Gate.* 


3. 


Red Earth Gate. 


10. Sacred Hair Gate. 


4. 


Sacred Tray Gate. 


11. Little Lake Gate. 


5. 


Shoury Douny Gate 


12. Twisted Umbrella Gate. 


6. 


Tree Gate. 


13. Stone Gate. 


7. 


Tree Gate. 





The various numbers set down in this curious 
document, of course changed according to circum- 
stances. 

The enemy had, in the opinion of the General, 
* South Gate. 



CASUALTIES IN THE FORCE. 103 



"settled" that the British should attack the town 
by the old road from the river to the pagoda, leading 
to the south gate, and running through the town, 
" where they had made every preparation to receive 
us, having armed the defences with nearly a hundred 
pieces of cannon and other missiles, and with a gar- 
rison of at least ten thousand men. The attempt to 
assault on this side would, I am convinced, from the 
steady way the Burmese defend their works, have 
cost us half our force." 

Our casualties in the land force were at first re- 
ported to be nearly two hundred. They were after- 
wards set down at three officers killed in action, 
and two by coup de soleil. Out of fourteen officers 
wounded, one, Captain Blundell, died. The total 
number of killed was reckoned at seventeen, and 
wounded at one hundred and thirty-two. The 
casualties in the fleet were about seventeen, out 
of which one of the Fox's men was accidentally 
drowned, and another of the Tenasserim was " blown 
away from an after pivot gun." 

Our indefatigable chronicler of the 12th of April 
has the following vivid entry in his diary : — " \Ath 9 
Wednesday. — Our troops attacked the enemy at the 
Dagoon pagoda ; the contest was severe and bloody ; 
several of our men were so badly wounded, that it 
was found necessary to amputate their limbs on the 
field of battle," — this is quite correct. " The enemy 
fell in heaps, and we are in possession of Rangoon." 



104 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 

Now for a mixture of truth and arrant absurdity. 
" A sham attack was made on one side on their 
stockade at the Dagoon pagoda, guarded by nume- 
rous guns of great power, and when we succeeded 
to draw their attention to the point, H. M.'s 51st, 
the Artillery (!), and others of the force, rushed in 
upon them from another side, and carried everything 
before them. The Burmese fought like furies ; the 
poor fellows had no alternative : their wives and 
children being held in security by their king for the 
fulfilment of their duty as fighting men." 

It is impossible to give a correct estimate of the 
number of the enemy who fell at the capture of the 
pagoda, or during the previous operations. Say, 
out of 18,000 who were at first prepared to meet 
us, and 20,000 is the number generally supposed, 
only two hundred bodies were discovered, it does 
not follow that only that number fell. 

It is the Burmese custom on the field to carry 
away, if possible, the dead and wounded. This is 
considered a sacred duty, and it is performed with 
every alacrity. A bamboo is quickly passed through 
the cloth encircling the loins, and the dead man is 
carried off. Should he be only wounded, more care 
and ceremony are used to take the sufferer to some 
place of refuge. Our force consisted of European 
troops, 2,727, and Native, 3,040= 5,767. According 
to one authority, the entire force engaged in this 
expedition consisted of 8,037 men of all arms ; that 



RETURN OF CASUALTIES. 



105 



is, reckoning, in addition to the foregoing, for five 
Queen's ships, # 808 ; six steamers of the Indian 
Navy, 952 ; seven Bengal Government steamers, 
and one gun boat, 510. Some of these vessels, and 
a portion of the land force, did not come into action. 



Return of Killed, Wounded, and Missing, at the attack and 
storming of Eangoon on the 11th, 12th, and 14th April, 1852. 



Corps or Department. 


Killed. 


Wounded. 


Madras Engineers . . 

Madras Sappers .... 

Artillery. 
Bengal Contingent . . 
Madras ditto 

Infantry. 
2 st or Bengal Brigade 

H. M.'s 18th Royal 
H. M.'s 80th Foot 

40th Regt. N. I 

2nd or Madras Brig. 
H. M.'s 51st Regt. of 


Three rank and file . . 

One N. C. officer .. 
ditto 

One officer, one sergt., 
and two rank and 
file 

One N. C. officer . . 

One trumpeter, three 
rank and file .... 

One officer, one rank 


One officer. 
One officer. 

Three officers, one N. C. 
officer. 

Two officers, one sergt., 
eight rank and file. 

Six N. C. officers. 

One N. C. officer, one 
Lascar, three Syce dri- 
vers. 

Three officers, one N. C. 
officer, one trumpeter, 
thirty-seven rank and 
file. 

One officer, three N. C. 
officers, one trumpeter, 
twenty-one rank and file. 

Eleven rank and file. 

One officer, three N. C. 

officers, thirteen rank 

and file. 
One officer. 

One officer, one N. C. 
office^ five rank and file. 


9th Regt. Mad. N. I. 
35th Regt. Mad. N.I. 


One rank and file . . 



* Including three steamers. To the force were attached 
fourteen transports. 



106 



THE SECOND BURMESE "WAR. 



Corps or Department. 


Killed. 


Wounded. 


Missing. 




2 


14 
















Warrant and Non-commissioned Officers, 










15 


114 










4 







17 


132 





Grand Total of Killed, Wounded and Missing— 149. 



(Signed) H. GODWIN, Lt.-Gen., Commanding the Forces 

in Ava, Arracan, and Tenasserim. 
W. MAYHEW, Captain, Assist. Adjt. Gen. of the 

Forces. 

Officers Killed and Wounded. 



| No. Killed. 


-6 

3 
> 

r* 

si 


Corps or 
Department. 


Killed. 




Wounded. 


1 





H.M. 18 R. I. 


Lt. R. Doran, 14 


— 


1 






April. 







H.M.51tFoot 


Ens. A. N. Arm- 










strong, 11 Apr. 







I 


Personal Staff. 




Lt. W. J. Chads (slightly). 





1 


General Staff. . 




Capt. G. Allan (severely). 





1 


Eng. Depart. . 




2nd Lt. E. C. S. Williams, 




1 






slightly). 





ditto 




2nd Lieut. L. Donaldson (mor- 










tally) 12 April. 





1 


ditto 




2nd Lt. W. S. Trevor (severely). 





1 


Madras Sapp. 










and Miners 




Capt. J. W. Rundall (slightly). 





1 


ditto 




Lieut. B. Ford (slightly). 





1 


H.M. 18 R.I. 




Lt.-Col. C. J. Coote (severely). 





1 


ditto 




Capt. W. T. Bruce (slightly). 





1 


ditto 




Lieut. G. H. Elliott (slightly). 





1 


H. M. 80 Foot 




Lieut. J. L. W. Nunn (slightly). 





1 


H.M.5KFoot 




Capt. W. Blundell (dangerously; 





1 


9tb Mad. N. I. 




Ensign G. F. C. B. Hawkes 










(slightly). 





1 


35th ditto 




Lieut. W. C. P. Haines (dan- 










gerously). 





1 


Commissioner 








Tenasserim 










Provinces .... 




Lieut.-Col. A. Bogle (severely). 



ORDNANCE CAPTURED. 



107 



List of Ordnance Captured at the White House Stockade, on 
the 12th, and at Rangoon on the 14th April 1852. 



Description of Ordnance. 



No. 



Remarks. 



Iron Guns 


3-pdrs. 


Brass ,, 


3 „ 


Iron „ 


18 „ 


,, Carronades 


18 „ 


»> >> 


12 „ 


, , Guns 


9 „ 


»> >> 


6 „ 


Carronades 


6 


Guns 


3 „ 


j > >> 


2h ,t 


»> >> 


2 „ 


>> >> 


n ,t 


Brass 


6 „ 


>> >> 


4 „ 


ft 7* 


3 „ 


ft ft 


H ,t 


f> ft 


1 2 ft 



Total 

Iron Ginjals or Wall Pieces, on 
Wooden Carriages 



92 
82 



f Captured at the "White 
^ House" Stockade, on 
L the 12th April, 1852. 



The whole of these are 
mounted on carriages 



Shuay Dagoon Pagoda, } (Signed) H. S. FOORD, Lieut.-Col. 
Rangoon, lbth April,\lSb2. S Commanding Art. Serving in Burmah. 



108 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



CHAPTEK VIII. 

FORWARD — AMONG THE TEMPLES ! 

April 15th. — Early in the forenoon, the Artillery 
moved on to take up a temporary position. We 
soon arrived at the south-east entrance of the 
great stockade, which had evidently been constructed 
with wonderful skill by the enemy. The following 
is as good a description as any we have read of this 
formidable style of uncivilized fortifications : — 

" Conceive a row of upright timbers extending for 
miles, as they do round the entire place, except in parts 
of the north and east sides, each timber fit to be the 
mainmast of a ship, these timbers three deep, and so 
close to each other that a walking-stick could not be 
passed between ; behind these upright timbers is a row 
of horizontal ones, laid one above another ; and behind 
all is a bank of earth twenty-four feet broad on the 
top, and forty-five feet at the base ; the height of 
the top of the uprights, from the bottom of the 
ditch in which they are deeply planted, is generally 
fourteen feet. The upper part of the ditch, and that 



BURMESE FORTIFICATIONS. 



109 



nearest the stockade, is filled with a most formidable 
abattis,* in the shape of the pointed branches of 
trees, stuck firmly into the earth, and pointing out- 
wards ; beyond this is the deep part of the ditch, 
which, in the rains, is of course filled with water. 
The upright timbers are strengthened with connect- 
ing planks, the ends of which are inserted on their 
tops, the other end of the plank being similarly 
secured by strong wooden pins in the bank inside. 
They are of such enormous, massive thickness, that 
firing at the face of a stockade would be a throw- 
ing away of powder." 

Inside, we observed that every preparation had 
been made to give us a warm reception, had we ven- 
tured this way in the first instance. Piles of shot 
were lying here and there ; shoals of long cartridges, 
filled with very coarse powder, and many a gro- 
tesque species of ammunition, were scattered about 
in every direction. A gun or two also peeped forth 
peacefully upon us ; and the position we were now 
going to take up was a peaceful one. Moving along 
with the guns, ample time was afforded to behold, 
with admiration, the temples which lined the road 
on each side. These temples appeared similar to 
those we had already seen — the distinguishing temple 
of this region — an irregular, solid cone, surmounted 
by an elegant top, over which is the tee (umbrella), 

* Chevaux de /rise, he terms it; but dbattis is nearer the 
thing. 



110 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 

gracefully fringed with bells, which emit music at 
the bidding of JEolus. It may interest the reader 
to learn that Solomon, King of Israel, about 
one thousand years before the Christian* era, had 
bells suspended about his temple, probably in- 
tended, " by the sound they produced on being 
agitated by the wind, to keep off the birds from the 
consecrated edifice." Like means are said to have 
been adopted on the Grecian temples. # Some of the 
numerous edifices we now beheld were evidently the 
work of an age long passed away ; perhaps raised in 
honour of Gaudama, to celebrate successive victories 
gained by the Burmese over Chinese kings. We 
next came upon smaller shrines, with an open space 
in the centre, containing one or more Gaudamas; 
and had it not been for the desolation produced by 
war — had the spots around, where our guns had 
done dreadful havoc, been adorned with living 
beings, and bright, green foliage, and clear streams, 
the sweet song of cheerful birds gladdening the air 
the while — that "avenue" of temples would have 
caused the antiquary, or lover of picturesque beauty, 
to exclaim, " Within, without — all is enchantment ! " 

Eighteen or twenty images of Gaudama were 
found in one small temple ; some of these were com- 
posed of pure alabaster, others were of brick, 
chunamedf over, and beautifully gilt. 

* Bury's Architecture. 

t A process to resemble marble. 



BURMESE TEMPLES, ETC. 



Ill 



Proceeding on our interesting march, we came to 
a magnificent descent of steps. On each side, a huge 
griffin, admirably carved, beside a small shrine ; then, 
leading along to the base of the steps, flanked by 
the superb design of a gigantic crocodile, with open 
jaws, as if ever ready to devour the ruthless invader 
of the sacred fane ! Having now moved along the 
summit of a chain of heights, commanding the plains 
to the eastward, we came round, after much trouble 
with the guns, and passed, on the second terrace, the 
north entrance to the Great Pagoda. 

Not far beyond, the Artillery officers put up for 
the night in a respectable Burmese house. Its con- 
struction seemed admirably adapted to the climate. 
Stout posts are sunk into the earth ; the bamboo or 
wooden floor of the house is then laid some four or 
five feet above the level of the ground, which keeps 
off the damp of the soil in the monsoon. The walls 
are of plank, or of mat ; and the roof is a simple 
framework, covered by a thatching of palm-leaves, 
which, when properly managed, are always water- 
proof. [In one of these dwellings, the author of 
this narrative is now writing, * while the rain is 
descending in torrents.] 

April 16th. — The Artillery moved to the upper 

* 12th of July ; living with Lieut. Hitchins, of the Madras 
Artillery, who has resided some years in the Tenasserim Pro- 
vinces. His father served as Adjutant- General during the 
1st Burmese war. 



112 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



terrace, or that round the base of the Great Pagoda. 
"We had now a good opportunity of beholding the 
vastness of this Gaudama's " solemn temple." The 
canopied staircases, grotesque with red and gold, 
Seemed not in keeping with the dignified grandeur of 
Shoe Dagoon and his associates. They served as 
excellent quarters for the European troops. The 
great temple, on its gorgeous summit being viewed 
through a telescope, suggests to the fancy some en- 
chanted hill, on the top of which a band of fairies 
have found an abode, where they might for ever 
dwell, undisturbed, far away from the haunts of men. 
Waving golden leaves attached to tinkling bells, 
rich gold work, all so snugly protected by the golden 
tee, draw forth admiration. Carrying the eye down- 
wards, the gilding becomes far less bright ; the spec- 
tator is then astonished by immensity, as, gazing on 
the beautifully waving lines and rectangular stones, 
extending to a sort of enormous pedestal, on which 
the temple seems to stand, and huge monsters which 
look not of this world, and small windows set in 
golden array, he approaches the mighty base. From 
this to the summit measures three hundred and 
twenty-one feet ; and yet, from its graceful propor- 
tions, it is difficult to believe the height so great. 

Shoe Dagoon is encircled, at some distance, by 
smaller pagodas, all possessing more or less beauty. 
One, situated to the north-east of it, is larger than 
the others ; its body, black with age, and the bright 



THE SHOE DAGOON PAGODA. 



113 



golden summit, forming a striking contrast. But all 
sink into insignificance before the great fane, built 
in an age long passed away, in honour of the repre- 
sentative of a wonderful religion — Graudania, an in- 
carnation of Buddha, * whose followers are more 
numerous than those of any other creed among the 
whole human race ! Viewing this stupendous edifice 
by moonlight, one might be led to feel that there 
must be some mysterious power in an intricate and 
symbolic worship, which could draw forth such 
general sympathy in the East — that the creed of 
Buddha is derived from pure materials ; or, to repeat 
a speculation hazarded in a former work, Buddha, 
being invested with many attributes which belong 
only to the Messiah, was simply a less refined 
creation than that of the Redeemer, as set forth in 
the Old Testament. 

The stranger, on beholding the Shoe Dagoon Pa- 
goda, is apt to imagine that it is all built of some 
rare stone or granite, like the massive temples in 
Southern India, or the gigantic pyramids of Egypt. 
But, in reality, it is one vast cone of brickwork, in- 
geniously covered over, and to which age has given 
the appearance of stone. The winged monsters at 
the base, and other figures, some with comely faces, 
go far to strengthen this idea. About the temple, 
you may be forcibly reminded of a celebrated descrip- 
tion in " Eothen" ; for you may there find a visage 
* Simply meaning Wisdom. 

I 



114 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



gazing on — gazing on — with tranquil mien and 
pouting lips, like " the very Sphynx, " infinitely 
smaller, but still with a similar, sad, and solemn 
countenance. 



UNCOMFORTABLE QUARTERS. 115 



CHAPTEE IX. 

LIGHTS AND SHADOWS. 

April 18th. — To-day 5 many of the tents arrived 
from the beach ; and by the evening, the Artillery 
had formed an encampment at the north of the 
upper terrace. Several of us, for the last two nights, 
had put up in a small poongee-house, near the north 
gate. The Graudamas in it were of colossal size, and 
took up considerable room, which we could ill spare 
at such a time. The odour near this spot was in- 
sufferable ; # and the rain, which fell at intervals, by 
no means added to our comfort. Under the rampart, 
in the Burmese house which the Artillery officers 
had abandoned, were quartered the Europeans of 
one Company of Artillery ; another was farther to 

* On account of balachong (Portuguese for dried salt fish), 
in Burmese, ngapee. A vast quantity of this food, with nume- 
rous huge baskets of rice, had been collected for a protracted 
siege. 



116 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



the west, in a similar building. Troops were en- 
camped here and there, as a matter of necessity, until 
a fixed position could be appointed. It took some 
time to dispel a loathsome impurity which tainted the 
air, produced chiefly by dead bodies of Burmese 
lying about, and remaining unobserved until some 
officer came across them, and ordered them to be 
removed. Cholera had broken out among the Euro- 
peans ; and it was a melancholy thing yesterday to 
behold the solemn task of burial in a small nullah by 
the road-side — " no useless coffin " enclosing the re- 
mains — the comrades of the deceased smoothing down 
the "lonely pillow" with becoming decency and 
reverence ; while so many, at the same time, were 
busy in clearing away, and preparing for a new life 
at Rangoon. Among the corpses of the Burmese, 
we beheld some who had once been foes, well- 
proportioned, and of considerable stature. There 
were one or two such, observable on the 16th, who 
had been shot down while on duty at their guns. 
Bad as the Rangoon Governor was, he does not 
appear to have had recourse, like the famous Bun- 
doola, to the infernal device of chaining his soldiers 
to the guns, in order that they might never cease 
firing till victory was achieved, or death had laid them 
low. 

Numbers of curious sawmies, of brass, of clay 
covered with a thin coating of silver, wood, and 
alabaster, are being brought into camp by the men. 



THANKS TO THE ARMY. 



117 



Gilt wooden cabinets and boxes, some of them very 
chaste, are likewise to be seen here and there. 

The following gratifying general order has re- 
cently been put in circulation in the camp : — 

ie General Orders by Lieutenant-General H. God- 
win, C.B., Commanding the Forces, Ava, Arra- 
can, and Tenasserim. 

" Dated Kangoon, 19th April, 1852. 

" 1. The Lieutenant-General Commanding has 
been so much occupied in preparing his Report of 
the operations of this Force to the Supreme Govern- 
ment of India, # that he has not had time to thank 
the Troops of all Arms for their late gallant conduct, 
which has resulted in placing them in the triumph- 
ant position they now hold ; and has carried out the 
entire wishes of the Most Noble the Governor- 
General in Council in fitting out this expedition, and 
sending; it to the Rangoon River. 

ff 2. The capture of Martaban is to be considered 
as forming part of the operations completed at 
Rangoon. 

" 3. Lieutenant-General Godwin, C.B., now begs 
this little Army to accept his warmest and most 
grateful thanks for its noble gallantry on all occa- 
sions, and for all it has endured with such manly for- 
titude, during the three days' operations which have 

* Appendix, No. V. 



118 



THE SECOND BUKMESE WAR. 



ended in the storm and capture of the great Pagoda, 
after the most harassing duties, which have proved 
fatal to so many valuable Officers and Soldiers. 

(< This Order will be read to each Regiment and 
Company of the Force." 

The enemy appear to have placed great reliance 
on their Artillery. "We captured in all ninety- eight 
guns, and seventy jingals. Several of the former 
were found to be eight e en-pounders, stamped with a 
plain crown, and 1812. Nearly every size and de- 
scription of gun was to be seen, from the ship's car- 
ronade down to a brass gun of exquisite finish. The 
Burmese attempt at the European carriage has in 
view the useful rather than the ornamental ; nor, 
although they fired so well, did they trouble them- 
selves much with tangent-scales or elevating-screws. 
In short, about their Artillery there hovered a rude 
science, civilization struggling with ignorance, crudi- 
ties seeking shape and organization. 

Numerous stores, such as sulphur, saltpetre, old 
iron, bullets, old shot and shells, pigs of lead, 
crockery and glass ware (!), also 18,000 pounds of 
powder, were found in the magazine, on the south- 
west angle of the second terrace. And we ought 
to mention one serious item, "muskets, with and 
without stocks, 480 ! " 

The Burmese have attacked one of our outpost 
picquets at Martaban, but without any success. 



KEMMENDINE IN 1824. 



119 



Friday, April 23rd. — A patrolling party visited 
Kemmendine, situated about two miles north-west of 
Rangoon. 

No place was more talked of in the last war than 
Kemmendine. The Rewoon, after his flight, in May, 
1824, threw up stockades near Kemmendine. It 
was there the British soldiers first perceived that the 
Burmese were not a people to be trifled with. In 
June of the same year, the enemy formed a large 
intrenched camp at Kemmendine. Then, a combined 
attack by land and water was determined on. Suc- 
cess was by no means impossible ; but it was a badly 
managed business, and we were repulsed! One 
column could not even find the road to the scene of 
action ; and it had been thought a fine thing to com- 
mit the atrocious folly of attacking such an intrench- 
ment without the aid of guns or ladders ! " Never 
despise your enemy ! " and, " What is worth doing at 
all is worth doing well ! " should be hung up in 
letters of gold on the walls of every war- office. 
These sayings are not the less true because they are 
so common. Kemmendine was, of course, eventually 
won ; and it formed a most valuable post on the river. 

Then came Bundoola, the Napoleon of Burmah, 
who was to drive the British at Rangoon into the 
sea ; he attacked Kemmendine. On that warrior's 
approach, Sir Archibald Campbell had established 
his head-quarters in the Shoe Dagoon Pagoda, "a 
point the most central and commanding." Kemmen- 



120 THE SECOND BUEMESE WAK. 



dine was garrisoned by one hundred of the Madras 
European Regiment (Fusiliers), and by the 26th 
M. N. I. 

There were attacks and counter-attacks ; there was 
a resolute defence ; and the sepoys of the 26th behaved 
so gallantly on the occasion, that at this day the Regi- 
ment wears on its colours the word u Kemmendine." 

Having gone out by the north gate, the party 
proceeded to the westward, passing by the abattis of 
the stockade. It then diverged slightly to the right, 
through a picturesque piece of country ; and after 
half an hour's walk, over an excellent brick road, 
the famous town was reached. In the principal 
street of Kemmendine, men, women, and children, 
seemed to be engaged in their usual employments. 
It did not appear that the voice of war had at all 
disturbed the tenor of their domestic tranquillity. 
They eyed our party with evident curiosity, and 
seemed to look upon us in the light of friends rather 
than that of enemies. They brought the soldiers 
water to drink with cheerful readiness; while the 
little children opened their eyes wide with astonish- 
ment at the "British lions." Some old men and 
women were about, who knew well what it was to 
live under a Burmese despotism ; and their looks dis- 
closed the hope that the English would stay, and 
govern, and civilize, and not go away, as they did 
last time, unintentionally committing humanity to 
the hands of the oppressor. 



DIVINE SEKVICE IN CAMP. 



121 



Everyone in the town seemed to be busy about 
something. Many of the inhabitants of Kemmen- 
dine live in their boats, and are chiefly employed in 
fishing, and conveying goods to market. 

The Sesostris lay peacefully on the water, nearly 
opposite, it was said, to the site of the Burmese in- 
trenchments during the last war. 

On our first arrival, the Serpent and Feroze had 
transacted some highly creditable business at K em- 
men dine ; for they had put to flight the turbulent, 
who had sworn to do war, and fight with the chival- 
ric spirit of a former generation. 

On the way back to camp, brick-kilns, of some 
seven or eight thousand bricks, arched underneath, as 
in our own country, caught our attention. The brick 
here is of inferior quality ; however, it acts as a toler- 
able substitute in a vicinity where little or no stone 
is to be found. 

April 25th. — This being Sunday, divine service 
was performed in the Artillery mess-tent. There 
was something peculiarly striking in the Christian 
Common Prayer read in such a locality, 

Surrounded by huge images, in their several 
shrines, in a humble tent we offered up our devotions 
to Him of whom the Creation is the Temple, which 
ff He has built with His own hands, and which is 
filled with His presence." No Buddha, no rude 
image of an incarnation, profaned the rites. One 
presence only we recognized — a presence to be re- 



122 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



verenced and feared — God, in the language of old, 
whose centre is everywhere, and whose circumference 
is illimitable : omniscient, omnipresent, yet invisible ! 

How sublime is the picture of the greatness and 
grandeur of the Almighty, drawn by Dr. Chalmers, 
in one of his immortal " Astronomical Discourses ! 
" In yon gilded canopy of heaven, we see the broad 
aspect of the universe, where each shining point 
presents us with a sun, and each sun with a system 
of worlds, where the Divinity reigns in all the gran- 
deur of His attributes, w T here He peoples immensity 
with His wonders, and travels in the greatness of His 
strength through the dominions of one vast and un- 
limited monarchy." 

Colonel Foord, our worthy Commandant, has been 
with us for several days past, having recovered from 
his coup de soleil of the 12th. 

Some wounded Burmese, of whom great care has 
been taken hy the philanthropists of the medical pro- 
fession, are still about the camp. There is no more 
admirable trait in the character of civilized soldiers 
than the attention paid to wounded foes. And in no 
country has this humanity been more exercised than 
in India. From Assaye, down to the glorious victo- 
ries which annexed the country of the five rivers, ex- 
amples of this magnanimity may be found recorded. 

April 27 tk. — Rumour is very busy at Rangoon; 
so to get at the truth is a difficult matter indeed. 
First, the King of Ava is dead ; then, a merchant 



OFFERS OF PEACE. 



123 



at Moulmein has offered a large sum for the wood 
of the Burmese stockades. Then, a great many 
lakhs of treasure have been found; and, after due 
consideration, the King of Ava has resolved to pay 
us up fifteen lakhs of genuine silver rupees to get us 
out of the country. 

The Shoe Dagoon Pagoda is supposed to be 
filled with treasure. It is a temple of Dives in every 
respect. 

But there is some truth in the following state- 
ment : — A few days ago, a flag of truce was brought 
on board the Commodore's ship, Fox, and a message 
in the shape of a letter, written on a dirty piece of 
paper, was delivered. The Burmese were willing to 
make peace and begin with trade, provided that the 
British had no objection ; but if we were resolutely 
bent on war, although on the enemy's side one army 
had been destroyed, they still had two others left. 
If the General was discreet, he would at once with- 
draw his army, and return to India Proper. By this 
means much bloodshed would be saved. 

Commodore Lambert sent the messenger to Ge- 
neral Godwin, who, on perusing the Foreign Ofiice 
document, politely told its bearer to bring him no 
such impertinent messages ; but if the king were de- 
sirous to make peace, he would have no objection, 
provided that ten lakhs of rupees were paid to the 
British Government, and other advantages ceded 
to us. 



124 THE SECOND BUKMESE WAR. 



The document was described as (e a wretched 
mixture of swagger and fear, braggadocio, and a 
surfeit of fighting." The General was likewise re- 
ported to have given the bearers of the letter "a 
pretty intelligible view of his opinion with regard 
to its sender," the late Governor of Rangoon, whom, 
he said, he would, if he could catch him, hang on the 
nearest tree, and " desired his ambassadors to be off 
about their business." 

This morning a copy of the Moulmein Times found 
its way into camp. The operations of the 11th, 12th, 
and 14th, were related and commented on in glowing 
language. Only, Captain Scott, our Artillery Bri- 
gade Major, was erroneously killed in print by a 
coup de soleil. There is something satisfactory in thus 
being extinguished. Lord Brougham was put out 
in this way a good many years ago, and enjoyed the 
pleasure of reading his own epitaph; but, notwith- 
standing, the world has continued to receive from 
him original views of the theory of light, and the 
results of his efforts to accomplish law reform down 
to the present day. 

A sale of prize ponies has produced some excite- 
ment among the military adventurers at Rangoon. 
About three thousand rupees were realized. The 
price of each animal varied from two to three hun- 
dred ; one sturdy little creature went off at the 
large figure of 360. In the Tenasserim Provinces 
numbers of ponies are brought down by the Shans, 



IDOLS IN BURMAH. 



125 



who also bring rubies. The Burmah pony may be 
purchased in the provinces for seventy to one hun- 
dred rupees. The genuine Pegu is seldom seen. 

We are beginning to pull down the huge sawmies 
in the Poongee-houses, preparatory to the setting in 
of the monsoon. Many of these shrines will make 
roomy and comfortable mansions ; some of them are 
lofty, with beautifully gilt interiors, which would 
surprise the architects of our own country. 

It is strange to observe the numerous idols lying 
about the upper terrace. There is a soldier busy 
with his pick- axe, excavating a huge golden image 
with as much coolness as if he were digging a 
trench. He is looking into the creature's heart and 
head for treasure — gold, or small silver figures, or 
rubies, which he will dispose of as well as he can. 
But we believe it is under the personal super- 
intendence of the prize agents that the principal 
idols are allowed to be excavated. This sacred spot 
is really one vast idol-shrine. 

Two Italian Roman Catholic priests are described 
as being very energetic at this period. " They have 
secured a house as a place of worship, and are to 
be seen going about in the sun at all times of the 
day." While glancing at these zealous men as they 
pass by, one is led to ask himself the question, Will 
the Roman Catholic religion, which in so many re- 
spects resembles the worship of Buddha, reign para- 
mount in the East, previous to its predicted fall ? 



126 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



"Will Popery rise on the ruins of Buddhism ? 
See — the latter has suffered (in its types at least) 
already — so many huge images in golden array lie 
on their faces broken, humiliated — the very sacred 
bells, from the smaller pagodas, pulled down by the 
European soldiery, no longer send forth their plea- 
sant tinkling sound. Is the fashion of the place 
about to pass away? The large bells round the 
pagoda are struck on the occasion of a Burmese 
beauty, or person of distinction, coming to present 
offerings.* 

In the north-east of the upper terrace, there is a 
magnificent bell. "It is twenty- four feet in circum- 
ference, the metal is two feet thick, and its height 
is ten or twelve feet. The weight must be prodi- 
gious ; it is suspended about a foot above the ground. 
The Governor-General might have it hung before 
Government-House in Calcutta; it would be the 
greatest curiosity in the City of Palaces. Burmese 
characters are engraved over the entire outside of 
the belL"f A bell of more modest pretensions is on 
the west face. It was the "monarch of the peal" 
during the last war. The weight, according to 
Havelock, is 18,000 pounds avoirdupois. It is 
broken in several places, and, like its younger 
brother, is covered with writing — we believe, mytho- 
logical passages relative to the religion of Gaudama. 

* Also to summon the Poongees on feast-days, 
t Diary in the Englishman, May 25th. 



BELLS AND IDOLS. 



127 



In addition to these monsters of sound, there are 
smaller bells about supported by two figures, all of 
considerable beauty. The plainer bells at the tops 
of the pagodas, have gilt leaves attached to their 
tongues, which, when acted upon by the wind, pro- 
duce soft melody. Nothing is more beautiful on the 
upper terrace than a small group of foliage and 
masonry to the north-west. Enshrined in a grace- 
ful building, with rows of small sanctuaries in the 
sides, is a venerable banian-tree. Some other tree 
has grown up beside it, as if in emulation of its 
majesty. From the large banian, which throws out 
luxuriant foliage in front of the great temple, issues 
a long, stone branch, which settling itself in a similar 
small building to that occupied by its parent, wears 
the appearance of a separate tree. A sort of green 
moss nearly covers these old shrines, for such they 
are. In the petty sanctuaries and niches around 
various images were formerly placed ; also, on feast- 
days, flowers and burning candles were to be seen in 
honour of Gaudama, a form of Pagan worship we 
behold, to which the Roman Catholic ceremonies 
bear some affinity. 

The origin of Graudama is a moot point among 
the Burmese. One of their theories or traditions 
runs thus : — At the creation of the world by the 
Supreme Being, some angels, or inhabitants of the 
other world, came down below and tasted of the 
earth. One of them found the new material so ex- 



128 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



cellent, that he ate so much, he could not again 
ascend. He, therefore, remained on earth as Gau- 
dama, watching over mankind to the present day, 
through all their innumerable vicissitudes. 

On the evening of the 27th started for a new shop 
near the beach, kept by a respectable tradesman 
from Moulmein. Making our exit from the south 
side of the pagoda, we pushed our way through the 
principal street of the new town, chiefly occupied by 
the Madras Native Infantry. On the road saw an 
unmistakeable Jack- tar hammering away at the cone 
of a small temple, probably making a step or two in 
order to ascend and secure the tee. 

On return to camp, we had an excellent view of 
the Shoe Dagoon from the south. Through an 
avenue of trees, at the extremity of which the 
splendid temple is seen towering to the skies, the 
effect is highly picturesque. The beholder is then 
impressed with an idea of the pagoda commanding 
an elevated position. Some suppose it to be two 
thousand years old. As with the great temple of 
Bhobaneser, in Orissa, the importance of site has 
not been neglected by the Burmese architect, if 
such he was. From this point of view the lights 
and shadows of the picture invest the scene with 
a deep interest. 



GAUD AM A. 



129 



CHAPTER X. 

GAUDAMA. 

Having attempted, while lately in England, to give 
the British public some idea of the worship of Jagan- 
nath and his celebrated shrine, it is strange enough 
to find one-self so soon after, far away from Europe, 
far away even from wild, romantic Orissa, in a land 
of war, endeavouring to make something of another 
of those " etratas of pseudo-religious fiction in which 
are preserved the debris and the fossilized skeletons 
of the faith."* 

J agannath and Gaudama, both are believed to be 
incarnations ; the former, one of the popular incarna- 
tions of Vishnu, the latter, of Buddha. But Bud- 
dha, that quiet, sleepless philosopher, who has given 
so much trouble to men of science, is supposed by 
many of the Hindoos to be the ninth incarnation of 
Vishnu. Jagannath and Gaudama, then, one would 
suppose, are not so very distinct. But they are 
* Review of Orissa by a London journal. 

K 



130 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



very distinct in practice ; and this is an " Asian 
mystery." Even the far-famed temple of Jagannath 
is situated, as remarked by Colonel Sykes, " on or 
near the site of a celebrated relic temple of the 
Buddhists ;" there is every reason, therefore, to be- 
lieve that the modern worship of Jagannath has a 
Buddhist origin. As the priority of Buddhism, the 
original patriarchal system, is now pretty generally 
admitted, it is well to see what those Brahmans, 
who consider Buddha an avatar of Vishnu, think 
of that extraordinary sage. He seems to us the 
Luther of Antiquity in the East. He exerted him- 
self, according to the Indian history, in restoring 
the religion of his country — India — to its original 
purity. 

This was not tolerated, as it tended to destroy 
Brahmanical influence ; sin, in consequence, abounded 
more and more, the righteous were detested, perse- 
cuted, and in the fourth, fifth, and sixth centuries of 
the Christian era, the followers of the religion of 
Buddha were expelled from Hindostan. This reli- 
gious and contemplative creed, in its present form, 
probably originated in Central India; but every 
date or computation regarding the era of Buddha 
differs. It is placed as far back as 1330 B. C. He 
may have been some great and wise king, eventually 
deified by his subjects and meeting with extraordi- 
nary veneration, amounting to superstition, such as 
is practised throughout Thibet, Siam, Cochin China, 



THE BHUDDIST CREED. 



131 



Burmah, Tartary, Japan, even to the present day. 
To reconcile dates,* say that two Buddhas, or rather 
Gaudamas, are believed to have dwelt on earth. 

Many Buddhists think that the present universe 
has been ruled successively by four Buddhas, of 
whom Gautama, or Gaudama, whose doctrines now 
prevail in Ceylon, Ava, and some other places where 
the religion of Buddha is acknowledged, is the 
fourth. A fifth Maistree Buddha is yet to come; 
he, a greater than any hitherto, is yet to come. 
And in India, there is " Kalki," the tenth incarna- 
tion of Vishnu, yet to take place. The " Preserver," 
mounted on a white horse, with a scimatir in his 
hand, is to renovate creation with an era of purity. 
If it be not too presumptuous to advance such a sup- 
position, these strange incarnations are likely to 
be realized in British power, British civilization and 
British enterprize. 

Gaudama is supposed by many to have established 
the sect of Buddhists. He was greatly offended 
with the conduct of the Brahmans on a particular 

* The date of the Siamese, Japanese, and Ceylonese, are 544 
and 542— the first two agreeing in date ; and Monsieur Bailly 
and Sir W. Jones, nearly agree with the Chinese, in assigning 
to the era of Buddha, the dates of 1031, and about 1000 B.C. 
There must, it has been supposed, have been two Bhuddhas — 
one, perhaps, the incarnation of Vishnu ; the other, the origi- 
nal Bhudda, or Budha, probably a king of India.— Orissa, 
p. 13. 



132 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



occasion, which was the cause of his separating from 
their communion, and establishing a new religion. 
So says tradition. <e This Gautama," writes Colonel 
Yans Kennedy in his erudite " Researches," " may 
have been merely a learned Brahman ; for it cer- 
tainly seems much more probable that in India a 
Brahman should be the founder of a new sect, than 
than it should owe its origin to the son of a king." 

But the Buddhists wholly disavow the ninth incar- 
nation of Vishnu. They insist that the worship of 
Buddha possesses a far higher claim to antiquity 
than that of the deities of the Brahmans, who, they 
maintain, came from other countries, and established 
their own religion, mainly by the power of the sword, 
on the ruins of the more ancient one of Buddha, 
which had for ages before prevailed. # In a former 
work,f we stated that, with all its error, a seeming 
purity, an honesty, a sincerity of purpose, belong to 
Buddhism, which we search for in vain in Brah- 
manism. The Brahmans appear before us in dark 
colours as a set of despots, shorn of all their scientific 
glory, whose chief delight is to fetter the human 
intellect, by domineering over the inferior masses of 
mankind. Among the Buddhists of later centuries, 
including those of the present time, the adoration of 
a Great Supreme, unseen, is more apparent than 
among the Brahmans. The present Brahmanical 
system, which has so long existed, is founded on 
* Coleman. f Orissa. 



THE BRAHMANICAL SYSTEM. 133 



outward display, licentiousness and mammon. Yet, 
this neglect of the spirit pervading all things, is for- 
bidden in the principal shastras, and by various 
Brahmanical authors, when it is stated that, "it is 
for the ignorant to view God in wood and stone ; 
the wise behold him in spirit alone." Buddhism is 
supposed to have been introduced into the kingdoms 
of Ava and Pegu by emissaries from Ceylon. 

According to the Chinese it came into their em- 
pire about sixty-five years after the commencement 
of the Christian era, during the reign of Ming-ty, 
of the Han dynasty. " That monarch, considering 
a certain saying of Confucius to be prophetic of 
some saint to be discovered in the west, sent emis- 
saries to seek him out. On reaching India they 
discovered the sect of Buddhists, and brought back 
some of them with their idols and books to China. 
The tradition is, that Buddha was both king and 
priest in a country of the west, with a queen whom 
he made a divinity. # 

And now Buddha awakes from a state of felicitous 
nonentity,! assumes his operative and creative qua- 
lities ; so let us at Rangoon behold him incarnate as 
Gaudama. The most common image, from the co- 
lossal down to the diminutive, is that which sits with 
crossed legs, the right arm easily depending, or on 
the knee ; the left arm is laid across the body. The 

* " The Chinese," by Davis. 

f Nicbari) in Burmese, is annihilation. 



134 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



ears have elongated lobes reaching to the shoulders ; 
and the hair is twisted into a fantastic knot on the 
top of the head. There sits the creature, clad in 
an effeminate robe, gazing tranquilly. It is often 
mistaken for a female. To get a good view of 
the object, let us survey the large, upright images. 
Many of them stand twelve feet in height, and have 
the right hand over the breast, while the left holds 
up a graceful flow of drapery. The head is encircled 
with ornaments. There is a tincture of female 
beauty about the faces of some of them. These 
figures, perhaps, were designed to represent the 
past, the queens of successive Gaudamas throughout 
many generations. The gilding appears to be of a 
superior quality. Strange enough is it that the 
Burmese excel alike in forming a beautiful image, 
and in fabricating from stone or wood some winded 
monsters, which are absolutely terrible to look upon. 
Such are some of those which stand out around the 
great pagoda. 

In the creed of Gaudama, there is nothing like the 
Brahmanical caste. This is a very important point. 
Comparing Brahmanism with Buddhism, a writer 
remarks, — " Imperfect as Gaudama's moral system 
undoubtedly is, it must be acknowledged free from 
numerous gross Brahmanical sources of error. Un- 
shackled by caste s and resting their hopes on indi- 
vidual merits, his followers are characterised by 
greater independence of conduct, and a somewhat 



DIVISIONS OF CASTE. 



135 



higher, less clouded ethical knowledge." And again, 
9 It may strike the heart of a Christian heavily, to 
see prayers offered up before the uncouth idols of 
Gaudama ; yet, after having witnessed Hindoo rites 
and festivals, there may be some consolation in the 
far more amiable features which the service of Gau- 
dama assumes, and in the freedom of his followers 
from the debasing effects of impure rites, and scenes 
of barbarous and revolting cruelties."* There can. 
be no doubt of the truth of these remarks, and they 
augur well for the future enlightenment and conse- 
quent civilization of Burmah. 

The changes that the various religions of the 
earth have undergone, must always form matter of 
interest to the student of history. But all arrive at 
the same Omega — there is but one God, Jehovah, 
the Lord of all. With regard to caste,, excluded 
from the creed of Gaudama, but the effect of which 
on our own Anglo-Indian empire is a matter of 
serious importance, Colonel Sykes gives some inte- 
resting information in his " Notes on Ancient India." 
It is supposed that the divisions of caste were anci- 
ently " secular and not religious, as the four castes, 
as they were called, existed equally amongst the 
Buddhists, as amongst the Hindoos." Brahmanical 
caste, however, is considered to be a divine ordinance, 
whilst the Buddhist is regarded simply as a civil insti- 
tution. Strictly speaking, there is no Buddhistical 
* Calcutta Review. 



13(5 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



caste. Consequently, we are warranted in stating, 
that the religion of Gaudama is unshackled by caste. 

By the simple introduction of one letter to the 
present name, it will be observed that the mystic 
syllable atjm appears in the word Gaudama. It 
literally signifies three in one. The Brahmans apply 
it to their triad of Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva, 
The Buddhists apply it to Buddha, Dharma, and 
Sang a. According to the interior doctrine, Buddha, 
or the Intelligence, produced Dharma, the Law, and 
the two united constituted Sanga, the Union, or 
combination of several. Such is the Buddhist Su- 
preme Head, or God, the Law, and the Church. 
These three are supposed by M. Bemusat to have 
been represented by images in China, during the 
grand processions many centuries ago. Then " all 
the images were of gold or silver, ornamented with 
precious stones. When the images had arrived 
within one hundred paces of the gate, the king took 
off his crown, changed his garments, and advanced 
barefoot towards it, accompanied by his suite ; fall- 
ing at its feet, he adored it (a gross corruption of 
the principles of Buddhism, which taught the 
worship of the Supreme Intelligence only), burning 
at the same time perfumes, and scattering flowers."* 

There is little or no difference in the manner in 
which these processions are ordered in many parts 

* Quoted in the " Idol-shrine," from " Notes on Ancient 
India," by Colonel Sykes, F.R.S. 



THE WORSHIP OP GAUDAMA. 137 



of China even at the present day. The priesthood 
assembled, worshipping, chanting, striking gongs ; 
the priests with shaven crowns, and arrayed in the 
yellow robes of their religion, their " lowering look 
of bigotry," incense burning in the temple, counting 
of beads, and tinkling of bells — what a glimpse have 
we at Romish Christianity in all this display ! 

The worship of Gaudama in the Tenasserim Pro- 
vinces, and other portions of the old Burmese em- 
pire is at the present time celebrated in a similar 
way. In the religious procession, there may be 
cars, dressed out with rude grandeur, as at Jagan- 
nath; but without the noise, and the indecencies, 
and the fanatic madness of Indian worship ; or it 
may be simply a foot procession, when well-dressed 
Talains (Peguese) and Burmese proceed on parti- 
cular occasions to their numerous pagodas, " bearing 
offerings of flowers, of fruits, of flags, of glittering 
umbrellas," and present their offerings at the altars, 
or place them around and against the pagodas and 
image-houses. 

The books of the Buddhist priests, we are in- 
formed, "mention a country called Sylan (Ceylon) 
in which, near the sea, there is on a certain moun- 
tain (Adam's Peak) the print of a foot three cubits 
in length. At Rangoon, we found a colossal foot of 
Gaudama ; it was discovered at the base of one of 
the large images, and it certainly is a great curiosity. 
It is of white solid marble, about five feet in length^ 



138 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



and ten or twelve inches deep, Several strong 
European soldiers could scarcely move the huge foot. 
It is to be hoped that the British Museum will be 
yet enriched by the presence of this colossal symbol. 

April 28th. — The handsome smomies, as the servants 
style them, brought in for sale, are not of muc 
value ; but they are curious. The coating of silver 
is generally very thin. The figures are represented 
sometimes holding a small pot, or a basket of eggs. 
Perhaps they are intended to illustrate how the 
disciples of the Pongees (or Poonghis) are employed 
out of school-hours. The inhabitants of villages 
most willingly present these pupils, out of respect 
for their teachers, with rice, fruit, and other eat- 
ables. A Kioung is a suitable residency for one or 
more Pongees. These are built at the expense of 
the town or village. Round the Kioung, the Dzayat 
is built for the use of travellers. 

The dependence of the priesthood of Gaudama on 
charity reminds one of the usages of the primitive 
Christian professors — "Go your ways: behold I 
send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry 
neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes : and salute no 
man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye 
enter first, say, Peace be to this house." # Such 
were the words of the Divine Teacher of mankind. 
Mercy and charity are two remarkable features in 
Buddhism. The Pongees are the national in- 
* St. Luke, x. 3, 4, 5. 



THE BUDDHIST POONGEES. 



139 



structors. "Any layman may turn Pongee, and 
vice versa, a Pongee may lay aside his yellow cloth 
and re-enter upon a secular life." In China there 
are numerous monasteries attached to the temples of 
Fo, or Buddha. The mendicant priests therein re- 
semble the monks of the Roman church. Celibacy 
is a principal vow on entering the priesthood. It 
is of course the same with the Pongee, The Pon- 
gees of Burmah are a remarkable class of men ; but 
yet for all their wisdom, they would not hesitate 
to believe that the mother of Buddha or Gaudama, 
swallowed an elephant in a dream, whence the vene- 
ration for elephants in this golden land. 



140 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



CHAPTER XL 

SMALL AND GREAT EVENTS. 

April 29th. — Yesterday, some of our Europeans 
found a little model of a Buddhist temple, silvered 
over in the same manner as the small images. Seve- 
ral of these figures were found with the tiny idol- 
shrine; all in different attitudes, presenting their 
offerings to Gaudama. Every day reveals new cu- 
riosities in this wonderful spot. 

At present, Rangoon, so hot, so monotonous, so 
relaxing, is by no means comfortable. The grand 
excitement over, there is now a stupid reaction. 
But it is not wise to remain long grumbling, espe- 
cially on the upper terrace. Let us turn to comfort, 
at Rangoon, during the last war, and be silent ; but 
then they had plenty of exciting business during the 
first few weeks of the campaign under Sir A. Camp- 
bell. 

Unlike General Godwin, the Commander of former 
days did not at first establish his head-quarters on 



QUARTERS AT RANGOON. 



141 



the upper terrace of the great Pagoda ; not until, 
as has been observed, Bundoola approached. Our 
General remained only a few days under cover of 
the south entrance ; he afterwards repaired to a more 
convenient position in the new town, which certainly 
does not look new. About this town there is nothing 
remarkable. Everything is common-place ; long, 
narrow streets, closely packed with houses on each 
side; no signs of municipal government, or of the 
Sewers Commissioners having visited the spot for 
many a long day. 

Commodore Lambert, occasionally, strolls through 
the camp. 

He carries on his countenance decision of cha- 
racter, one of the grandest requisites for every 
officer who would achieve greatness. And there cer- 
tainly can be no finer field for the exercise of this 
virtue — if it may be so styled — than a Burmese 
war : for, in this land, the diplomatists are cunning. 

Monday, May 3rd. — We have commenced building 
houses for the monsoon, which begins about the 
middle of May. Everyone is busy, Burmese car- 
penters working for us cheerfully, and evincing a 
certain rude skill; officers and soldiers, all employed. 
Priests are wandering among the ruins, sighing and 
praying. They behold the gilt pongee- house turned 
into a barrack, or a mess-house ; they behold quanti- 
ties of grain being taken away by the Commissariat 
Department to make room for the abode of white 



142 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



strangers ; they behold everything suffering from the 
spirit of change ! They, perhaps, think the " great 
globe itself" is about to dissolve. It may naturally 
strike some of them, that Gaudama had the power 
to keep away the strangers ; but as we give them no 
reason to regard us as anything else than protectors, 
they are not disposed to be offended with his chary 
exercise of authority. 

The prickly heat and musquitoes are unwelcome 
guests here. The nights are cool and pleasant ; but, 
during the day, the heat is great, generally 98°, and 
occasionally 105° in the smaller tents. 

According to recent home-intelligence, the Earl of 
Ellenborough said in the House of Lords, # with 
regard to the report which had reached England, 
that his Golden Footed Majesty was inclined to be 
pacific — " He hoped, though he could scarcely believe 
it, that the accounts just received of the settlement 
of the dispute were true. He was afraid, too, that, 
if hostilities ensued, the Government would find the 
claims for compensation from British subjects enor- 
mous. The Marquis of Lansdowne entered into an 
explanation as to the dispute at Rangoon, saying, 
that he had no reason to doubt the sincerity of the 
concessions granted by the Burmese emperor; and 
concluded by declaring his conviction that we had 
right on our side." As to the matter of compensa- 
tion alluded to by Lord Ellenborough, the Burmese, 
* Feb. 16th. 



THE GOVERNOR OF RANGOON. 



143 



of course, will be forced to pay that, if required. 
But even this rests entirely, one would suppose, with 
the Indian Government. 

May 10th. — " Where can the Governor of Ran- 
goon be ? " — a question very frequently asked in the 
camp; but never satisfactorily answered. At one 
time, he was reported to have been seen on a 
pony, some ten miles distant, with two hundred 
followers. At another, he was supposed to be con- 
cealing himself, in order to avoid the certain ven- 
geance his Majesty of Ava would bring down upon 
him for his conduct at the great stronghold of Gau- 
dama. But more vast intelligence was soon on the 
gale. On the 7th instant, an expedition, consisting 
of some four or five hundred men, from H. M's 18th 
Royal Irish, and the 35th Madras Native Infantry, 
under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Apthorp, # 
of the latter corps, left Rangoon in pursuit of the 
Governor. A party of about sixty marines accom- 
panied them. The troops were taken up by the 
Tenasserim, Pluto, and Medusa. The marines were 
from the Fox, under Commander Tarleton. It was 
now reported that Colonel Apthorp had "gone in 
search of an army of Burmese, 20,000 Infantry and 
500 Cavalry, with many pieces of ordnance, which 
were coming down upon us with destructive intent." 
In addition to this " formidable army," there was the 
Governor of Rangoon, with an escort of 10,000 
* K. S. F. 



144 THE SECOND BUEMESE WAK. 



men, under the personal command of — Captain 
Impey! We were certainly to be driven into the 
sea ! 

Regarding Impey, every one speaks. In England, 
it may not be generally known who he was. In a 
few words, he served as an officer in the Madras 
Army ; eventually became an Assistant to the Com- 
missioner of the Tenasserim Provinces, and, in that 
situation, abandoned the army to which he belonged, 
and, as was generally supposed, went over to the 
Burmese. 

It was now reported in Calcutta that a Mogul, 
recently arrived from Burmah, stated that the King 
of Ava had secured the aid of an eminent European ; 
it was hinted that that person was Captain Impey ! 

But the best story about the wonderful Impey is 
the following : — " At the taking of the great Pagoda, 
a Madras soldier, who knew Impey well, saw him 
making his way through a stockade, and just about 
to mount his horse. The soldier ran towards the 
spot, and hailed Impey by name, and asked him to 
stop ; whereupon Impey replied, quite in the Jingle 
tone, f By-by, my boy ! we shall meet again ! ' And 
then, getting into his saddle, rode off for the jungles, 
and was out of sight." 

Rumour also had it, that another European, named 
Harrison, was aiding and directing the Burmese. 
And why ? Because his name was seen cut on many 
a tree ! 



THE CAPTURED BAGGAGE. 



145 



Colonel Apthorp's force disembarked by 4 A. M. of 
the 8th instant, and advanced on Maubee, about 
seven miles inland. Our steamers had proceeded 
between thirty and forty miles up the river. Their 
crews landed with the troops. But they arrived just 
in time to see the Governor decamping with two 
elephants, and a number of carts. The bulk of his 
property he had sent off the previous evening, 
si having received intimation of the intended arrival 
of the steamers." 

" The carts," says one account, " the troops were 
in time to catch; but nothing beyond some articles 
of household furniture, and some muskets and swords, 
was found in them, which latter were destroyed. 
Some women and children were in the carts, who 
were, of course, let go. Our troops remained during 
the heat of the day in the village, and at 4 P.M. 
fired it, and went away." 

Three golden umbrellas were found in the Gover- 
nor's house at Maubee. 

The heat during the land-march was intense. One 
seaman of the Tenasserim died from coup de soleil, 
and several sailors as well as soldiers suffered severely 
from the sun. And yet the Governor was not 
caught, after all ! 

The force returned to Rangoon at noon of the 9th 
instant. 

Another version of this affair is as follows: — 
After a hot march through a dense jungle, the force 



146 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



came to a large plain, <f which would have made a 
most excellent little battle -ground. The ex-Gover- 
nor, with about 1,500 men, waited, apparently as if 
he intended to fight; but I conclude his courage 
failed him, as, when our force arrived within about 
three-quarters of a mile of him, he fled with all his 
followers." 

May \\th. — Intelligence has been received that 
the Phlegethon, under Captain Niblett, very nearly 
caught the Governor of Rangoon ; we suppose when 
on his flight from Maubee. The Phlegethon was at 
the time cruising about, and making herself useful, 
when she came through a narrow creek, where 
steamer had never been before. The unfortunate 
Governor had just time to get into a small canoe, 
and make his escape. However, he left his large 
boat behind, containing eleven thousand rupees. 
[A report current on our first taking up quarters at 
Rangoon was, that the King of Ava had sent the 
Governor several lakhs of rupees to pay the British 
General.] 

According to another version of the story, it was 
the Governor of Dalla, and not the Governor of 
Rangoon, that the fortunate Phlegethon had come 
across. Cf She captured his grandmother, and one of 
his old wives ; for the fellow (his Highness of Dalla) 
is a Mormonite, and, for the sake of variety and to 
meet contingencies, keeps a good number on hand, of 
b6th old and young. But the steamer got something 



RANGOON REVIVES. 



147 



more valuable than these ancient ladies: namely, 
13,000 rupees in cash, besides jewellery and 
valuables, worth four or five thousand ! " 

Previous to the success of the Phlegethon, the 
Mahanuddy, river-steamer, had been reconnoitring 
near Rangoon. 

The kind manner in which the Burmese were 
treated by the crew, re-assured the people of our 
protection ; and numbers had come, in consequence, 
back to the town. The Burmese are flocking into 
Rangoon daily. New houses are being erected on 
the sites of the burned ones ; and Rangoon promises 
soon to be far more populous and flourishing than it 
has ever been before. 

" The bazaar is already well supplied with 
fish, fruit, vegetables, and poultry in abundance. 
Coolies in any number are procurable ; and they are 
very expert in running up a house in a very short 
time, using no implement but a dah, with which they 
can cut a toothpick, or erect a stockade." # 

Towards the end of April, a number of trading- 
schooners came in, freighted with spirits and various 
liquors, from Moulmein. Commodore Lambert and 
General Godwin, on becoming aware of the fact, im- 
mediately promulgated 

"Port Regulations. 
" 1. All vessels trading to Rangoon shall produce 
* Correspondent of the Calcutta Englishman. 



148 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



their bill of lading, on their arrival, to the Master 
Attendant. 

" 2. That the Custom-house wharf shall be the 
only place where such vessels will be allowed to land 
their cargoes. The hours for so doing will be from 
sunrise to sunset. 

" 3. That a competent person will be appointed 
to strictly observe that no part of the cargoes of these 
vessels is allowed to pass without a permit, signed by 
the Master Attendant. 

" 4. Spirits and wines of any description are pro- 
hibited, without a special order from the Head- 
quarters of the Army, or the Senior Naval Officer 
in Command. 

" 5. All fire-arms and ammunition are prohibited ; 
and vessels having more on board than is actually 
necessary will be seized. 

(Signed) "George Eobert Lambert, 

" Commodore, H. M.'s ship Fox. 

"Rangoon, April 28th, 1852." 

There having been some misapprehension among 
the Burmese who had come into Rangoon, as to the 
grant of, and right to, lands for the erection of 
dwelling-houses, General Godwin had deemed it 
advisable to issue the following: — 

" Proclamation. 
" It is to be distinctly understood that all persons now 
occupying houses and land in Rangoon, only occupy 



REINFORCEMENTS FROM ARRACAN. 149 



and hold the same on sufferance ; present permission 
gives them no legal right to the property. The 
British Government is now at war with Ava, and 
although the army has taken Rangoon, that circum- 
stance gives the Commodore no power to assign 
land or houses to any person whatever. All these 
matters will be arranged after peace has been 
restored either by British Commissioners, or the 
Burmese authorities, as the case may be. 

" By order, &c. 
(Signed) " G. Allan, Captain, 

" Deputy- Assistant Quarter-Master-General." 

May \2th. — Yesterday, the 67th Bengal Native 
Infantry disembarked from the Berenice and Zenobia, 
having arrived from Kyouk Phyoo, in Arracan, on 
the 10th instant. They occupy a rising ground to 
the north of the Pagoda. The 40th Bombay Native 
Infantry protect the west face of the stockade. The 
67th is commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Sturt. 
The 5th Regiment Madras Native Infantry took 
its place at Arracan. The newly-arrived corps was 
the cause of the first " alarm " in camp. 

Last night, about twelve o'clock, while the rain was 
descending in torrents, the bugles sounded forth the 
general assembly. A report having been current, 
that the Burmese meditated coming down in 
great force, made every one on the alert. " The 
enemy might have taken advantage of the dark and 



150 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



night " — " They had let us alone too long," and 
similar ideas entered the heads of some who were 
thus suddenly roused from their slumbers, and 
forced to turn out on duty. But all were soon 
glad to turn in again. A sentry of the 67th had fired 
at the stump of an old tree. The true story was, 
he had shot an unfortunate old woman. The other 
sentries fired, and hence the cause of the alarm. 

The following picture seems to give a good idea 
of the importance of Martaban:* — "Let any one 
ascend the hills of Martaban, and look down upon 
the rich and extensive alluvial plains below, the 
rich meadow which we should possess for sheep- 
rearing. Let him proceed through the villages to 
any distance into the interior, and observe the beau- 
tiful gardens thickly studded with tropical fruit- 
trees. Proceeding along, look at the commodious 
creeks with which every part of the country is 
intersected, well adapted to the uses of our timber- 
merchants. In fact, the province of Martaban is 
far superior every way to Moulmein, and our 
Government would do well to retain it." 

The Hermes and Pluto have left us ; the former is 
off to China, the latter, we believe, to the Straits. 

* On the Salween, as before observed, " this river is the 
boundary marking the British territory to the north-west ; 
and Kyodon, or Rope Station, is a few miles below the Falls, 
where the river is from one mile to a quarter of a mile in 
breadth." 



STEAM IN BURMAH. 



151 



The Mahanuddy is under repair. While on some 
new enterprise a short time since she got on a sand- 
bank and sustained serious injury. A journalist 
writes : — v The engine works and boiler of the 
unfinished steamer of the Burmah king, which we 
got hold of some time ago, have come to great ser- 
vice. Parts have been taken and used for repairing 
the Mahanuddy'' 

We believe the Tenasserim, while on duty up the 
river, took this scientific prize away from his Golden- 
Footed Majesty. On our former occupation of Ran- 
goon the British found a sailing-vessel in progress, 
now we find a little war- steamer. The spirit of 
modern science seems to breathe everywhere. But 
judging from the ungraceful Helen, the Burmese 
themselves have not much idea of ship-building. 
Probably it was enough for them if speed, in the 
present instance, could be made to serve the place 
of beauty. 

It seems to be generally believed that steam will 
bring about great wonders and changes in the East. 
Many orientals look upon a steamer as a demon in 
harness, at full speed. When these same alarmists, 
in due course of time, shall behold an engine on the 
railway, they will of course be terrified that the 
demon is out of harness, and at liberty altogether. 

Steam is, perhaps, the Asian mystery ! one of 
the grand magnets, so to speak, for drawing the 
civilization of the West to the far East. Who will 



152 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 

venture to speculate on the extent of its coming 
power? Before the last war the King of Ava's 
sages informed him that, when a vessel should pro- 
ceed up the Irrawaddy without sails or oars, then, 
and not till then, would his glory begin to depart. 
The prediction was partly fulfilled by the Diana, 
and the eventual treaty which was signed. 

With so many fine steamers under British com- 
mand at Rangoon, some of them ready to proceed 
to Prome at a moment's notice, the end of his 
Golden-Footed Majesty's glory must now surely be 
near at hand ! 

The following extract from a letter may be in- 
teresting to many, at this portion of the narrative : 
— " The screw war-steamer, Rattler, is a perfect 
puzzle to the Burmese : it is a contrivance they 
cannot understand, a mystery they are unable to 
solve. They gape and wonder, and are lost in 
amazement ; in short they can make nothing of it. 
They see a large ship move without a rag of canvass, 
and independent of wind and tide, where she likes 
and how she likes, and all this with no visible 

machinery to impel her through the water 

They return baffled and confounded, and I dare say 
by this time their minds are so far made up on the 
subject, that the Rattler is put in motion by an 
agency nothing short of infernal." # 

For the last week sickness has been on the de- 
* Hurkaru, May 25. 



THE BARRACKS AND THE RAINS. 



153 



crease among the Europeans at Kangoon. On the 
11th, the 18th Royal Irish had only seventy men in 
hospital, while the 49th B. N. I. had upwards of 300. 
Her Majesty's olst have suffered severely, having 
up to yesterday lost by disease upwards of fifty men. 
The wing of H. M.'s 80th and the European Artil- 
lery are tolerably healthy. Major Lockhart, com- 
manding the former corps, died on the 5th instant. 

Barracks for the European troops are about to be 
constructed. Timber, ready cut, has arrived from 
Moulmein ; but it is feared, notwithstanding the 
energy of Major Fraser and his assistants, the bar- 
racks will not be completed in less than two months. 
The site chosen for the barracks is towards the 
south-west angle of the stockade, " about midway 
between the line of stockade on the south, and the 
wall of the Pagoda." 

A journalist of the 12th May gives the following 
correct information: — " The 10th of this month has 
all along been fixed on as the day for the com- 
mencement of the rains, and pretty near the mark 
it has proved, as from the 10th it did rain a few 
drops. Last night it came down in torrents, and 
blew a gale of wind. This morning we were simi- 
larly favoured, and may now consider the rains as 
fairly commenced."* 

* " The Artillery are clearing out the numerous pagodas on 
the upper terrace; but the 80th and 18th occupy the covered 
•way of the nights of steps on the south and west sides. As I 



154 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



In the evening the principal walk of some of us 
is round the upper terrace. It is a pleasant stroll 
should a man be inclined to the meditative. Not- 
withstanding the number of troops encamped around, 
there is no noise. His reverie may only be dis- 
turbed by the stern appearance of some sphynx-like 
figure, staring from the base of the Shoe Dagoon, 
as if it wished to speak to him. He may mount 
the ramparts, and behold the Rangoon river as it 
winds towards the sea. He may be charmed with the 
landscape of dark and light-green foliage, relieved 
by a bright creek or so, all beautiful to look upon. 
In the distance he may behold the Syrian Pagoda, 
and quite near to him Dalla, and Rangoon itself, with 
its numerous small temples, all bathed in the splen- 
dour of a setting sun. 

before said, they are by no means adequately protected from 
the elements there, and yet I fear they will have nothing 
better for some weeks. The 51st are located in houses towards 
the south-east angle of the stockade, and are well off." — Diary 
of an Officer in the " Englishman," May 25th. 



156 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



five or ninety miles nearly direct west from Rangoon. 
Its chief advantage consists in commanding one of 
the three great navigable branches of the Irrawaddy. 

On the 17th May, General Godwin proceeded 
with a detachment of eight hundred men, some four 
hundred European and three hundred Native In- 
fantry, sixty Sappers, and a party of Marines, to take 
possession of Bassein. To reach this port they were 
forced to make for Negrais's island, and ascend the 
Bassein river — " the Rangoon river not being yet 
quite navigable upwards by the steamers;" or rather, 
being navigable for boats only, by the way of 
Bassein Creek. The fleet consisted of the Sesostris, 
the Moozvffer, the Tenasserim, and the little 
steamer Pluto, all under the command of Commodore 
Lambert. 

Bassein, about sixty miles above Negrais, was 
reached by the fleet on the afternoon of the 19th. 
The Pluto, in advance, had intercepted a boat, filled 
with Burmese, on its way to give warning of our 
approach. Nothing could be got out of the crew 
save — " that it did not much matter whether news 
reached the Governor of Bassein or not, that a force 
was coming up against him, as everything was in a 
perfect state of readiness up there to blow us out of 
the water." 

The Friend of India writes: — "By four o'clock in 
the afternoon of the 19th May the steamers were 
ranged opposite the fortifications of Bassein, having 



CAPTURE OF BASSEIN. 



157 



accomplished a voyage of sixty miles, without a 
pilot, up an unknown river, lined with stockades, 
without an accident, and without a shot having been 
fired. The Governor-General, in his Notification, 
thanking General Godwin and his force for their 
achievements, alludes to this circumstance as 
heightening in no small degree, the difficulty, and 
therefore the credit of the exploit." We agree with 
the Friend in considering that, in the capture of 
Bassein, General Godwin displayed some of the best 
qualities of an English general. 

There is discrimination in the following re- 
marks :— 

a We read of no errors, the results of misinforma- 
tion, of no losses proceeding from rash or ill-digested 
movements. The work marked out could hardly 
have been executed with greater despatch; nor 
could the resistance of the enemy, strongly posted, 
confident and determined, have been subdued and 
overcome with less loss. It is pleasing to have to 
record a success, alloyed by no imprudence, unac- 
companied by a numerous list of casualties, resulting 
either from blundering ignorance, or rash, ill-con- 
sidered and unnecessary attacks."* 

The conduct of all the troops employed, particu- 
larly H. M.'s 51st, was truly admirable on this 
occasion. 

There is something magnificently cool, too, about 

* Englishman, and Jfilitary Chronicle. 



158 THE SECOND BUKMESE WAR. 



the gallant Captain Latter — parleying with the Bur- 
mese behind their own works — to the effect that if 
they would not fire at us, we would not fire on them. 
The reply of the enemy was, that if our force 
advanced one step further they would fire on us. 
Captain Latter rejoined, that in that case we would 
turn them out root and branch. At the same time 
a heavy discharge of musketry and jingals and round 
shot was poured into us. 

Our troops then commenced work in right earnest. 
The non-commissioned officer accompanying Captain 
Latter was killed, and fell over that officer, who lay 
prostrate, and stunned from the effects of a spent 
shot, every one supposed him to have been killed. 
But, no ! — he bore a charmed life ; and more glory 
was in store for him. 

The noble Captain, in relating to us the story of 
this dangerous adventure, did not think the projectile 
thrown at him was "a brickbat but so rumour 
had it, and so it remains. He considered himself to 
have had a very narrow escape ; and who will deny 
that he had ? 

" The whole affair/' writes a describer of the 
scene, " occupied fifty minutes, and a gallant 
one it was; 5,000 of the King of Ava's picked 
soldiers were there, and 2,000 men of Bassein." Of 
course, an Armenian, or European, was, as usual, 
seen on the works directing the Artillery. " The 
* Despatch of Major Errington. 



GOVEBNMENT NOTIFICATION. 



159 



loss of the enemy is calculated at 800 ; the gunnery 
from the ships was terrific and most effectual." 
Considering our small numbers, the loss on the side 
of the British was not trifling. 

The following officers were wounded: — Major 
Errington,* Captains Darroch and Rice, and Lieu- 
tenant Carter — all of H. M.'s 51st Foot; also, 
Lieutenant Ansley, of the 9th Madras Native In- 
fantry, and Lieutenant Rice, R.N. 

The grand total of guns and jingals captured 
amounted to eighty-one. Immediately after the 
conquest the Burmese evacuated the town; — and 
thus Bassein fell ! 

The event is thus recorded in the Governor- 
General's Notification, and General Godwin's 
Despatch. From the latter all the important details 
concerning the capture of Bassein may be culled: — 

" NOTIFICATION. 
"Fort William, Foreign Department, 5th June, 1852. 
" The Governor-General in Council has the grati- 
fication of announcing the capture of Bassein, and of 
publishing, for general information, the Despatches 
which report the combined operations of the Naval 
and Military Force, by which this service has been 
executed. 

" In ascending for sixty miles a river still very 
imperfectly known, in effecting the landing of the 
* Appendix, No. VII. 



160 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



troops and capturing the city, the fort, and the 
stockaded defences on both sides of the river, fully 
garrisoned and armed, and in accomplishing all this 
with very unequal numbers, and within the limits of 
a single day, the combined forces at Bassein per- 
formed a gallant and spirited service, which well 
deserves the approbation and applause of the Go- 
vernment of India. 

" To Lieutenant-General Godwin, C.B., and to 
Commodore Lambert, the Governor-General in 
Council has again the satisfaction of offering his 
cordial acknowledgments of the ability and good-will 
with which they have united their exertions for en- 
suring success to the operations in which they were 
engaged. 

" The Governor- General in Council begs to re- 
peat his thanks to Major Boulderson, Deputy Judge 
Advocate General, to Captain Latter, to Captain 
Chads, A.D.C., and to Lieutenant Ford, of the 
Madras Sappers, for their conduct in the field on this 
occasion. 

" His Lordship in Council desires especially to 
mark his sense of the services rendered by Major 
Errington, H.M. 51st Light Infantry, commanding 
the detachment of troops at Bassein, and to Com- 
mander Campbell, of the Indian Navy, by whom the 
stockade upon the right bank of the river was 
stormed and taken. 

" To Captain Rice, Captain Darroch, and Lieute- 



THANKS TO THE TROOPS. 



161 



nant Carter, of H, M.'s 51st Light Infantry, to 
Lieutenant Ansley, 9th M. N. I., to Lieutenant 
Craster, Bengal Engineers, and to Dr. McCosh, of 
the Medical Department, the Governor-General in 
Council begs leave to convey his best thanks. 

" Equal acknowledgments are due to Lieutenant 
Bice, R. N., to Lieutenant Elliot and Lieutenant 
Nightingale, R. M., to Commander Hewett, to 
Lieutenant Robinson and Lieutenant Lewis, Indian 
Navy, and to Captain Dicey, Captain Burbank and 
Mr. F. Duncan, of the Bengal Marine, whose ser- 
vices have been commended. 

(e The Governor- General in Council has particular 
satisfaction in adding the expression of his entire 
approbation of the gallantry and good conduct of the 
officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of 
H. M.'s 51st Regiment, of 9th Regiment M. N. I, 
of the Madras Sappers and Miners, and of the sea- 
men and marines employed in the capture of the City 
of Bassein. 

" By order of the Most Noble the Governor- 
General of India in Council. 

" C. Allen, 

" Officiating Secretary to the Government 
of India." 

M 



162 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



From Lieut.-General H. Godwin, C.B., Com- 
manding the Forces in Ava, Arracan and Te- 
nasserim Provinces. 

" Sir, — The Governor-General having expressed 
some anxiety about the south part of Arracan, as 
being in the neighbourhood of Bassein, I resolved, 
as soon as I could conveniently leave Rangoon, to 
take a Detachment, and personally visit the place. 
On expressing this intention to Commodore Lam- 
bert, he, to my very great pleasure, said he would 
accompany me. I fixed on Monday the 17th May, 
and had a Detachment warned to be ready to em- 
bark on that morning, consisting of 400 of the 5 1st 
K. O. L. I., 300 of the 9th Madras N. L, 67 
Madras Sappers, and a Sergeant and 6 Gunners of 
the Bengal Artillery. The whole party was placed 
under the Command of Major Errington of the 51st 
L.I. 

" The Commodore appointed three fine vessels to 
carry the troops — the H. C. S. F. Sesostris and Moo- 
zuffer, and the Tenasserim, with a smaller steamer, 
the Pluto, carrying the Naval Brigade and Marines 
of H. M.'s frigate Fox. 

" We cleared the Rangoon river on the afternoon 
of Monday the 17th, and on the next evening an- 
chored off Negrais Island, leading into the Bassein 
river. At daybreak the next morning the Flotilla 
weighed and we ascended that most beautiful stream 



CAPTURE OF A PAGODA. 



163 



for sixty miles, which at four o'clock brought us in 
view of the defences, of about a mile long, of the 
City of Bassein. We had passed some new stock- 
ades, one at and the other south of Naputa, a few 
miles below the town, which were not armed, but 
these consisted of one extensive stockade, with 
several hundred men in it, fully armed with 
cannon. 

66 The enemy looked at us, but did not show any 
disposition to molest. The Flotilla arrived at the 
left of their position, a strong well-built Mud Fort, 
armed with cannon and men. This we passed 
within two hundred yards, and so in succession all 
their defences for nearly a mile, till the Tenasserim, 
with the Commodore and myself on board, anchored 
opposite a golden Pagoda, centrally situated within 
the defences. The steamers anchored in succes- 
sion without bringing down the fire of a single 
musket. 

ef The admirable position taken up by the steamers 
induced me to order the immediate landing of the 
troops. The enemy appeared so completely sur- 
prised and paralyzed by our approach, that I gave 
orders not to fire unless fired on, and to take posses- 
sion of the Pagoda. Nearly all the men of H. M.'s 
51st Foot got on shore under the Pagoda before a 
shot was fired. Captain Latter, my interpreter, 
accompanied Captain Darroch with a company of the 
51st on shore, and landed on the extreme right of 



164 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



the works, opposite a traverse covering a gateway, 
and there a parley was held between Captain Latter 
and some Burmese on the walls, which brought on 
the first discharge of musketry, killing a sergeant and 
wounding two men. This fire was taken up and ran 
down the works, but soon ceased. 

" At this time Major Errington made his advance 
on the Pagoda and carried it in most gallant style, 
the 51st L. I. maintaining nobly the character they 
had ever commanded by their courage and distin- 
guished conduct in the field. 

" The contest that stamped the operations of this 
remarkable day with a brilliant conclusion, was the 
attack on the Mud Fort, most scientifically built, 
and of great extent, which could only have been 
constructed under a despotism that commanded the 
labour of its subjects, in the short time they had 
been about it. It was not entirely completed in its 
details within. The storming party under Major 
Errington proceeding to the left of the Burmese 
works, accompanied by Lieutenant Rice, of H. M.'s 
frigate Fox, and Lieut. Ford of the Madras Sappers, 
came upon this Mud Fort fully garrisoned and well 
armed. The attack was most determined, as was 
the defence obstinate. It was bravely stormed, but 
with the consequence of Major Errington and several 
officers and men being severely wounded: Lieut. 
Ansley, with a small detachment of the 9th Madras 
N. I. shared in this contest ; he was severely wounded 



CAPTURE OE A MUD EORT. 



165 



and the corps proved itself to be as good as it looks, 
and it is one of the nicest corps I have ever seen ; 
its gallantly and devotion on this occasion claiming 
the admiration of all who witnessed it. The whole 
affair was over a little after six o'clock. 

" TThile these operations had been going on, the 
Commodore had claimed the services of Captain 
Campbell of the Sesostris, and his men, in destroying 
a stockade on the opposite bank of the river. They 
drove off the Burmese, fired the stockade, and took 
six guns. 

K I am informed from several sources that the 
enemy suffered very severely in the contest in the 
Mud Fort. 

" In having the honour, as well as the gratification 
of reporting to the Governor-General in Council the 
possession of this important station, I will observe 
that, from every indication of preparations going on, 
the Government of this country intended to make it 
a most powerful place and to repair the loss of Ran- 
goon by establishing Bassein as their mart of com- 
munication with this country, as well as a powerful 
position to keep in subjection the Pegu population 
so decidedly and ever our friends, and also to main- 
tain a threatening attitude towards the south of 
Arracan. 

" By leaving Bassein to itself, I should have been 
giving it back to the soldiery just driven out, as the 
defences had been built and put into the improved 



166 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



state I have described, by five thousand men from 
the Upper Country, commanded by a man of repu- 
tation. To secure it, I have left a garrison of two 
companies (160 men) of the 51st L. I., and 300 men 
of the Madras N. I. These will be reinforced by an 
officer of Artillery and half a company with two 
9 -pounder guns. The garrison now possessing two 
12-inch howitzers. These, with two months' rations, 
will leave this on or about the 26th instant. Major 
Roberts, of the 9th M. N. I., will proceed in the 
same vessel to take command of Bassein ; he is an 
experienced and excellent officer. 

fC I consider that in a few weeks the Burmese 
soldiery of the Upper Country will have returned to 
their homes, meeting with no sympathy from the 
Pegu population, and the Pegu soldiers themselves 
are already with their families, so that the garrison I 
have left could, in a military point of view, be with- 
drawn in six weeks ; and it will then remain with 
the Government of India to decide whether it will 
hold during the war this very important place. If so, 
further arrangements will be very necessary. Major 
Eraser, the Commanding Engineer, should visit it. 
A very little expense will make it a sure position. 
The barrack houses the soldiery are now in are ex- 
cellent, and well built of wood. Fresh meat can be 
had, as the population of the place are coming under 
our protection in great numbers. 

"I may here remark, that that most admirable 



RETURN TO RANGOON. 



167 



officer, and clear-seeing man, my most respected late 
Commander Sir A. Campbell, attached great import- 
ance to the holding of Bassein. 

" After passing two clear days in arranging for 
the stability of the detachment to be left here, on 
the morning of the 22nd, the flotilla, with the excep- 
tion of the Sesostris, which remains, weighed at day- 
break, and reached Rangoon on the 23rd May, after 
an absence of only seven days. 

" To Commodore Lambert, and to this combined 
expedition, the Governor- General in Council owes 
all that professional ability and unremitting exertion 
could accomplish towards success to which they so 
largely contributed. The H. C.'s steamer Proserpine, 
Commander Brooking, arrived twenty-four hours 
after the place was taken, but even so his activity 
was not lost, for he and his vessel went off the morn- 
ing before we weighed and destroyed the stockade 
that I have mentioned to have passed on the way up 
to the river. 

"Major Errington, of H. M.'s 51st L. I., who 
commanded the detachment of troops embarked for 
Bassein, who principally directed this detachment, 
and who fought this detachment, deserves the par- 
ticular thanks of the Most Noble the Governor- 
General in Council. I have great pleasure in for- 
warding his report of the operations, for the perusal 
of his Lordship in Council. 

" I beg the best consideration of Government for 



168 



THE SECOND BUKMESE WAK. 



Captain Rice, and Lieut. Carter, of the 51st L. L, 
and for Lieut. Ansley, of the 9th Madras N. I., all 
three severely wounded at the assault of the Fort, 
and also for Lieut. Ford, of the Sappers and Miners, 
on the same occasion, for Lieut. Rice, 1st of H. M='s 
frigate Fox, who commanded the Naval Brigade, and 
who was severely wounded, whilst particularly dis- 
tinguishing himself in the attack of the Fort. 

"It has been brought to my notice that Mr. 
Duncan, the 2nd officer of the H. Co.'s steamer 
Tenasserim, at the head of a party of men of his ship, 
behaved most gallantly upon the same occasion. 

(( To Captain Darroch, of the 51st L. I., and to 
Captain Latter, my interpreter, thanks are due for 
their gallantry in forcing the traverse, and entering 
at the gate on the right of the enemy's position. 
Lieut. Craster, of the Bengal Engineers, also merits 
thanks ; and the plan of Bassein, which I enclose for 
the Governor-General's inspection, will prove his 
professional competency. To Lieutenants Elliot and 
Nightingale, with the Marines of H. M.'s frigate 
Fox, and to Captain Campbell, of the H. C.'s steam 
frigate Sesosiris, I beg your Lordship in Council's 
kind consideration. To Doctor McCosh and the 
officers of the Medical Department, thanks are par- 
ticularly due. 

" The Naval part of the Expedition, both sailors 
and Marines, supported the character that has ever 
been theirs of undaunted courage. 



MAJOR. BOULDEKSOtf. 



169 



" I have been considered wanting sometimes, in 
not more particularly naming corps or individuals, 
but in this peculiar warfare of constant assaults on 
well armed and strong positions, often well defended, 
it has been the noble emulation of all to be first into 
the enemy's works. It was in such an effort of am- 
bition that that fine and gallant young officer, Lieut. 
Doran, of the 18th R. I., fell pierced with four 
balls, far in advance of his proper post ; indeed, I 
might fill my report with names, were all to be in- 
dividualized. 

" I now beg particularly to bring to the notice of 
the Governor-General in Council, Major Boulderson, 
of the Madras Army, the Deputy Judge- Advocate- 
General of the Force, who, on this occasion accom- 
panied me and filled the two posts of Assistant- 
Adjutant and Assistant-Quartermaster-General to 
the expedition, as I could not move from their im- 
portant duties at Rangoon, Adjutant- General May- 
hew nor Quartermaster- General Allan. 

" The Major has been of much essential service to 
me in various ways; and the judicious manner in 
which he posted the picquets after the capture of 
Bassein, in that wilderness of houses and jungle, 
tended to the perfect security of the force. Captain 
Chads, my Aide-de-camp, never leaves me, and al- 
ways makes himself particularly useful. 

" Since my last report, nothing worthy of note has 
occurred at Rangoon. The town is increasing in 



170 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



importance by crowds of natives who daily come in 
with their families and goods ; as is the case through- 
out the neighbourhood, but especially at Kemmen- 
dine, which is as large a place as Rangoon. 

" The conduct of the troops is excellent, and their 
health is improving daily since the rain has set in. 

" I have the honour to be, &c, 
(Signed) " H. Godwin, Lieut-General, 

" Commanding the forces in Ava, 
Arracan and Tenasserim Provinces. 

" Head- Quarters, Rangoon, 24th May, 1852. 

"To Charles Allen, Esq. 

" Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign 
Department, Fort William, Dated Head- 
Quarters, Rangoon, 24th May, 1852." 

Monday, May 24:th. — Yesterday evening the 
General returned from Bassein. The town of Pegu 
is said to be occupied by a Burmese chief, who has 
been victorious over the Peguese. This morning a 
grand parade round the Shoe Dagoon Pagoda, with 
all the customary honours, celebrated her Majesty's 
birth-day. The effect was very grand and im- 
pressive. 

It is supposed that the unfortunate ex-Governor 
of Rangoon, who was so nearly caught the other 
day by Colonel Apthorp, has been since captured 
and sent in chains to Ava. The same Mightiness 



ATTACK ON MARTABAN. 



171 



which a few months ago put the Line-Myoothor- 
Gree in irons for failing to re-capture the King's 
ship ! What an example of the biter bit ! To- 
morrow Lieutenant Tayler, with a detachment of 
Artillery and two guns, proceeds to Bassein. Major 
Roberts, with the remainder of his regiment, like- 
wise proceeds to take command of the new position. 

May 3\st. — Intelligence arrived this evening of an 

Attack on Martaban. 

" At about six o'clock on Wednesday morning 
last* a Burmese advanced force, consisting of about 
600 men, under Moung-Bwosh, the Governor of 
Martaban, marched over the hill from the western 
side, made a sudden and unexpected rush upon the 
picquets guarding the heights, and were chased from 
their position into the camp. The alarm now being 
given, the troops were under arms and at their 
guns. Major Hall ordered the picquets at the 
Northern Pagoda into camp, and subsequently sent 
a strong party of sepoys, under the command of 
Lieutenant Holmes, to reconnoitre, under cover of 
the artillery-guns. The Burmese, however, ad- 
vanced ; a party of about 1,000 kept near the small 
White Pagoda below the hill; another of about 
2,000 lay a mile away in reserve, while a smaller 
force kept up a smart fire on the troops at the dis- 
tance of about 150 yards north of the camp. The 
* The 26th inst. 



172 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



party under Lieutenant Holmes was placed in a 
very perilous situation ; but that officer succeeded 
in returning to camp with, however, serious loss in 
three killed and eleven wounded, of whom eight 
are dangerously so, a subadar of the 40th N. I. 
being of the number of the latter. The Artillery 
now played with the most deadly effect, and the 
report of heavy guns at Martaban caused the alarm 
to be sounded in cantonments here. The two com- 
panies of H. M.'s 51st L. I. and 26th N. I. got 
under arms ; the former were marched off at once, 
embarked in boats, and proceeded to Martaban. The 
Feroze } from her position opposite the office of Messrs. 
Graceman and Co., a distance of three and a half 
miles from the White Pagoda on the hill, sent dis- 
charges of artillery which made the Burmese seek 
a more distant point of protection, and defaced the 
beauty of their Pagoda. The strength of the Bur- 
mese was now seriously weakened, and the reserved 
forces obliged to be brought up to the rescue. These 
were also reduced in number, for the attack being 
in open day, and not as hitherto at night, their 
position and numbers were ascertained and dealt 
with accordingly. A body of men entrenched them- 
selves behind a small white Pagoda, near their 
former storehouse or magazine, and hoisted a flag 
on it, which, being observed by Lieutenants Steuart 
and Baird, became a mark at once. The flag on 
the first shot was sent down in tatters, the summit 



PUKSUIT OF THE BUKMESE. 173 



of the Pagoda keeping it company. The Burmese 
now found themselves uncomfortably situated here, 
the guns being fired in this direction until the glacis 
of the hill was cleared. From this time until late in 
the evening shots were fired at intervals to clear the 
place of stragglers. 

" Commodore Lynch, on delivering his instruc- 
tions to his second in command, manned his three 
cutters, and proceeded up the Salween to intercept 
the flight of the Burmese. lie found them scat- 
tered at the third Pagoda, now repairing, north of 
the camp, and ordered his boats to open fire upon 
them with shell and cannister, which made them 
scamper away as fast as their legs could carry them, 
but from the frying-pan into the fire. The Infantry 
met them as they were taking to their heels, and 
opened raking fire upon them. Captain Tapley, 
on the other hand, with his own cutter, and 
one from the Medusa, manned by marines from 
the Feroze, went in a south-westerly direction, but 
failed to meet the enemy. The boats returned on 
the same evening, and proceeded up again yesterday 
morning. 

" We understand that the Burmese force was 
commanded by the notorious Dacoit chief and rob- 
ber Moung Shoay-loang, and that he had been sent 
from Ava to retake Martaban, or forfeit his head 
in case of failure. Wednesday last was, according 
to the guardian angels of Moung Shoay-laong, con- 



174 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



sidered the lucky day for the exploit ; but with what 
success has been seen." * 

Burmese Games. 

A few words about the games among Talains and 
Burmese may now be interesting. The principal 
are cock-fighting, buffalo-fighting, foot-ball, and 
boat-racing. They have likewise a sort of dice to 
aid their gambling propensities. At the buffalo- 
fights men sit on the beasts ; these last rush at each 
other with tremendous fury. Frequently the horns 
become locked together, when a trial of strength 
ensues, each pushing his adversary as far back as 
possible. The buffaloes, after a short contest, gene- 
rally become tired of the sport, and not unfre- 
quently scamper away at a furious rate from their 
tormentors. The buffalo is seldom killed ; but the 
rider is often thrown. The game is every bit as 
rational as the bull-fights so extensively patronized 
by the ladies of Spain, and to many it is certainly 
quite as exciting. Foot-ball is played with a small 
ball of wicker-work — very light of course. The 
players form a circle, and keep up the ball with 
remarkable skill : with knee or foot they send it 
flying in every direction, as if they were perfect 
masters in the law of projectiles. In boat-racing 
the Burmese shine considerably. Boats very long, 
and very narrow, with some twenty rowers on a 
* Moulmein Times, May 28th. 



BURMESE GAMES. 175 

side, and paddled along at an incredible speed. 
Singing and a variety of gestures aid the effect of 
this exciting amusement. The Burmese posture of 
defiance is common in the pleasure as well as in the 
war boats. The latter are generally ornamented, 
and armed with some thirty men or so, carry- 
ing questionable muskets, but sharp dhas. A 
national game, of minor importance, is a sort of 
draughts. The players commence by drawing squares 
on the ground, and seated occasionally in a state of 
profound abstraction before a move, they play away 
with a gravity worthy of the great Gaudama 
himself. The Burmese enjoy a game at cards quite 
as much as the old ladies of England. They are 
fond of music and very superstitious : many of them 
believe in fairies. The instrument of sound used 
is a sort of harmonicon, which discourses most elo- 
quent music either to the adventurer on his rambles, 
or to the Burmese beauty as she sits, like many of 
those in our own country, pensive and alone. Men 
and women, in every clime, are both poets and 
musicians by nature. In the melody or modula- 
tion of sound there is a wonderful power, which, 
" partly from nature, partly from habit and asso- 
ciation, makes such pathetic impressions on the 
fancy, as delights even the most wild barbarians. 
The Burmese are likewise fond of dancing, when 
they frequently display their skill in the dress of 
devils." 



176 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



We shall conclude this chapter with the descrip- 
tion* of a Burmese funeral. 

" Returning from Kemmendine in the evening, 
we saw a Burmese funeral-procession following the 
remains of an old woman. Women and children 
attended as well as men, and three priests brought 
up the rear. The corpse is placed in a coffin made 
of matting, and is carried by four men. Old women 
were howling in a most disconsolate manner. On 
reaching the burial-ground the Phoongees came 
forward, and took up their position on a raised 
platform at the head of the grave. Before the priests 
were placed three large dishes of plantains, dried 
fish, &c. Pieces of wood were put across the grave, 
and the coffin rested on them. The men then 
kneeled round the priests, and the women and chil- 
dren formed an outer semicircle. A Phoongee then 
repeated a few prayers, to which the men responded. 
Then a long prayer was said, and while the priest 
was speaking a man was pouring water slowly on 
the ground from a small earthenv are vessel. This 
finished the ceremony, and the Phoongees, having 
had their provisions carefully collected, departed. 
The old woman was then taken from the coffin and 
buried. Buddhists, it must be remembered, bury as 
well as burn. Pouring the water from the earthen 
vessel is to signify the spirit departing from the 
body." 

* Furnished us by Lieutenant Cadell of the Bengal Artillery. 



EXPEDITION TO PEGU. 



177 



CHAPTER XIII. 

PEGU. — PROME. — THE GRAND QUESTION. 

During the first fortnight of May the Peguese had 
risen in considerable strength against the Burmese, 
and had turned them out of their towns and 
villages. At the end of the same month we find the 
.case reversed ; and the town of Pegu again in the 
hands of a Burmese chieftain. Regarding the 
Peguese already in the light of allies, it was natural 
to expect that an expedition from our Force would 
shortly pay their ancient capital a visit. Pegu was 
reduced by Alompra, after his conquest of Burmah's 
rival kingdom, to a state of comparative ruin and 
desolation. 

The Conqueror spared the temples, among others, 
the magnificent Shoe-madoo Praw, or Temple of the 
Golden Supreme.* 

Conciliation was attempted. But every endeavour 
to conciliate the Peguese by Burmese strategy 
* Appendix, No. VIII. 

N 



178 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



signally failed. What they sought for was what 
they seek at the present day — either independence, 
or a good system of government, by the people of a 
nation wiser and more civilized than themselves. 
With the former, in its strict sense, every half- 
civilized people must now go back in the scale; with 
the latter they must advance, and add their portion 
of lustre to the triumphant light which shall, sooner 
or later, dwell upon earth. 

The town of Pegu is situated some seventy-five 
miles nearly north from Rangoon, to which it is far 
inferior as a commercial position. On the 2nd of 
June an expedition was ready to start for Pegu. 
The party consisted of two Companies of H. M.'s 
80th, and two Companies of the 67th B. N. I., the 
whole under Colonel Sturt, of the latter corps. As 
many as could be stowed were placed on board the 
Phlegethon; the remainder were put in country 
boats, to be towed. But it was soon discovered that 
the boats were not sea-worthy. The troops could 
not proceed to Pegu that day ; so all were marched 
back to quarters. On the following morning the 
expedition, considerably reduced in size, made a 
successful start. It now consisted of one Company 
of H. M. 80th Foot,* the Rifle Company of the 
67th B. N. L, under Captain Hicks, and a 
detachment of Madras Sappers and Miners, under 
Lieutenant Macintosh, with Lieutenant Mayne, as 
* We believe commanded by Captain Ormsby. 



EXPEDITION TO PEGU. 



179 



Field Engineer; the whole commanded by Brevet- 
Major Cotton, of the 67th Regiment. This force was 
accompanied by a small party of the marines and 
sailors from the Fox, Phlegethon, and Medusa, under 
the command of Captain Niblett, of the Phlegethon, 
and Commander Tarleton, of H. M. S. Fox. All 
embarked on board the Phlegethon steamer, which 
took in tow the boats of the squadron. 

Of course our " Chevalier Bayard,"* Captain 
Latter, accompanied the expedition. By nightfall 
the steamer had reached within sixteen miles of 
Pegu, where she anchored. From the narrowness 
and shallowness of the river it was not considered 
safe to proceed farther. The only thing worth 
observing that took place on the passage was that 
several large villages, as the expedition came in view, 
assembled all their inhabitants on the banks of the 
river, and cheered and waved their hands towards 
Pegu I " Let the British standard be planted on 
the walls of Pegu !" 

On anchoring for the night, information was 
brought off that a party of Peguese, on the right 
bank of the stream, under a chief named Moungtah, 
had risen and defeated, the day before, a detachment 
of the Burmese garrison, under an officer named 
Manykyairck, and that they had proceeded along the 
bank of the river, intending to co-operate with us in 
the attack on Pegu. 

* Sans peur et sans reproche. 



180 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



The allies were to be distinguished by wearing a 
small white flag in the cap. 

Next morning the whole party took to the boats, 
and proceeded leisurely up to Pegu, a short distance 
from which Moungtah and his Peguese band made 
their appearance. These were directed, in case of 
accident, during our operations, to keep at a distance 
till required. However, as heavy firing was heard 
on the right bank of the river, between the Peguese 
and the Burmese, the troops immediately landed. A 
few of the enemy only were to be seen, retreating as 
fast as they could. The boats and naval party, 
under Commander Tarleton, were directed to pro- 
ceed farther up the river, to cut off the retreat of the 
enemy who might attempt to pass across. However, 
seeing a party of the enemy on the left bank, on 
which the town of Pegu is situated, Commander 
Tarleton landed the whole of his party, except the 
boat-keepers, and proceeded to disperse them. 
Having advanced some distance, a body of Burmese, 
seeing the unguarded state of the boats, pounced 
upon them, and took possession. Fortunately the 
Burmese were more anxious to plunder than to de- 
stroy the boats. 

As Commander Tarleton and his party were 
returning to their boats they were fired upon from 
jungle growing upon old and ruined walls. The 
little party gallantly turned to the assault, and 
entered the work by a large gap or gateway, which 



THE PAGODA STOKMED. 



181 



was not fortified. There were not more than forty 
shots fired by the enemy, who fled before the steady 
fire of the Naval force with the utmost precipitation. 
Seven Burmese only were shot down. It was on 
entering this gap that a correct view of the future 
scene of operations was obtained. Within these 
ruined walls was an open area of about four miles in 
length ; nearly in the centre a lofty pagoda, with 
much jungle at its base. The enemy also appeared 
in considerably larger force than was expected. 
Commander Tarleton, accordingly, prudently deter- 
mined to hold the gap, and to send notice to the 
troops under Major Cotton, on the opposite bank. 
These were on their return, having heard that the 
boats were in the possession of the enemy. In the 
meantime Commander Tarleton likewise heard of the 
same circumstance; and that gallant officer imme- 
diately returned with his men to the scene of disem- 
barkation. Thus, the sailors coming down on the 
one bank and the soldiers on the other, the boats were 
immediately recaptured, with the loss of two rifle- 
men wounded. 

It being now about ten o'clock a.m., the sun was 
very powerful ; and the men having passed over a 
large extent of ground, Major Cotton prudently de- 
termined on postponing the attack on the Pagoda till 
three p.m. By that time the men would have rested, 
and enjoyed their rations. The gallant Major took 
up an admirable position with the Rifles in front 



182 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



inside the ruined walls, sheltered by the jungle 
covering them, and commanding a clear view of any 
movements from the Pagoda. The European por- 
tion of the force put up in the few huts that 
remained about one hundred yards in the rear 
on the bank of the river ; the sailors occupied 
the boats. About one P.M., however, the enemy, 
apparently emboldened by what seemed to be 
inactivity, and perhaps by the loot (spoil) from the 
boats, which had been taken to the Pagoda, were 
seen coming down about fourteen hundred strong, in 
something like order, commanded by some thirty 
chiefs, on ponies. Another account says, there were 
1,200 men, some mounted, and carrying umbrellas 
over their chiefs, besides which there were regular 
horsemen, who, while they rode, sung a kind of 
vaunting song. The alarm being sounded, the Rifles 
immediately rushed out, and held the enemy in 
check. On the native troops being joined by the 
European soldiers and sailors the enemy immediately 
fled ; and so precipitate was their retreat, that not a 
single Burmese was touched even by the long shots 
of the rifles. The advance of our small and gallant 
party was now so rapid that they seemed as if by 
magic, in one instant, to rush up the west and south 
faces of the Pagoda, killing a few of the enemy, 
and suffering no loss whatsoever themselves. 

A stronger party, under Mr. Midshipman L , 

was now left in the boats; and Captain Latter was 



CAPTURE OF PEGU. 



183 



directed to remain for their further safety with the 
Peguese on the banks. The next day was spent in 
destroying the granaries, and carrying off nine guns ; 
and, on the following morning, the whole party re- 
turned to the steamer. The entire loss of the British 
on this occasion was one European sailor killed, and 
two wounded, in the occupation of the boats by the 
enemy. One sailor was wounded in the assault on 
the gap, under Commander Tarleton ; and two 
riflemen were wounded on our recapture of the 
boats. The loss of the Burmese could scarcely be 
estimated, from the best information, at more than 
one score. 

Thus was the old town of Pegu captured. It was 
not occupied by the British, but made over to the 
Talains — a political step, on which it is rather 
difficult to form an opinion, after an earnest request 
from the Peguese for the expulsion of their op- 
pressors. # It is to be hoped, however, they will 
defend their own persons, if they cannot keep their 
towns, till Pegu comes forth in greater beauty than 

* The following was published about the middle of June : — 
" The British troops stormed the Pagoda at Pegu, after some 
heavy skirmishing on the 4th, with a loss of one seaman 
killed; three seamen, two sepoys, and one camp-follower 
wounded. The Force, after destroying the fortifications, re- 
turned to Rangoon on the 5th. Everything quiet round 
Bassein. The enemy had left the neighbourhood, and the 
inhabitants were coming in numbers to seek protection under 



184 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



ever, under an enlightened rule. The month of 
June in this narrative becomes celebrated by the 
achievements of the H. C.'s gallant little steamer 
Proserpine, under Captain Brooking, in the Irra- 
waddy. She was sent up the Irrawaddy, and made 
good her way, before the middle of the month, with- 
out serious opposition, to where that river divides 
itself, like the two prongs of a fork ; or, say 
eighty miles below Prome. All that portion of the 
river below this point was thus surveyed. At the 
point where the Irrawaddy divides into two streams, 
and above which there is no other outlet, to the sea, 
we may be said to command the navigation of the 
great river. Captain Brooking, with the Proserpine, 
succeeded immediately after in exploring the Irra- 
waddy to within thirty miles of Prome, having thus 
penetrated into the very heart of the enemy's 
country, and, with the assistance of two well-armed 
boats, of H. M. S. Fox, having captured and de- 
stroyed eighty boats of grain, of thirty tons each. 
The rice in these boats was destined for the Burmese 
army assembling at Prome, and its loss at such a 
crisis was, of course, severely felt. An intelligent 
writer remarks that — " It is a proud thing to reflect 
upon this little English vessel alone, in the midst of 
enemies and of an enemy's country, performing its 

our rule. The troops were all very healthy. Soon after our 
troops left the old town of Pegu, the Burmese came down in a 
body of 3,000 or 4,000 strong, and drove out the Peguese." 



THE REV. MR. BURNEY. 



185 



duties as unconcernedly as if it was on the Thames, 
and taking and destroying the Burmese Commissariat 
in their very teeth." 

The Proserpine, on her voyage, did not escape 
being fired on : and, about the end of the month, 
intelligence reached us at Rangoon of a brilliant 
little affair against a stockade, which she silenced 
and destroyed, after expending all her ammunition, 
This position was, most probably, held by a strong 
band of dacoits, who roam like firebrands through 
the country, ready to espouse any successful side, 
but, until opportunity turns up, destroying every- 
thing that comes in their way. Similar lawless 
vagabonds infest the Nizam's dominions in the 
Deccan. But this "Jolly June," as Spenser calls 
the month, had its peaceful as well as its warlike 
triumphs ; the former, of course, at Rangoon. An 
elegant theatre was being erected for the entertain- 
ment of officers and men ; and the Rev. Mr. Bur- 
ney's reading and lecture room was very well 
attended. This excellent chaplain arrived from 
Calcutta early in May; and his frequent visits to the 
hospitals, combined with his admirable expositions of 
pious and homely truths to the men on a Sunday, 
effect immense good.* His idea of getting up in- 
structive lectures for the men, to be delivered once 
or twice on the week days, was a good one. 

* This exemplary man died some weeks later of cholera, a 
victim to his own unwearied attendance upon the sick. 



188 



THE SECOND BUKMESE WAR. 



Already large audiences of British soldiers have been 
enlightened with a graphic sketch of the rise of 
European traffic in Burmah to its decline, with 
various information regarding the country. They 
have likewise, we believe, been favoured by Mr. 
Kincaid — alluded to in the second chapter of this 
narrative — with a lecture on Buddha, which one 
would imagine to be rather above their comprehen- 
sion. When the author of this work was lately in 
England a well-educated man took him into a corner 
one evening, and said, with a solemn face, — " Now 
tell me, what does Buddha mean ? Who was 
Buddha ?" A very natural question, and one of so 
puzzling a character, that we were obliged to leave 
it to such men as Colonel Sykes and Professor Wil- 
son to fairly answer. # 

Yes, with all their erudition and vast research, 
notwithstanding the immortal labours of Sir W. 
Jones, Vans, Kennedy, Coleman, Colebrooke, Re- 
musat, Manupied, and a host of others, men will be 
enquiring, in a generation yet to come — Who was 
Buddha? 

Mr. Kincaid, on his return from Moulmein, 
recovered but a very small portion of his valuable 
books lost in the " Flight." Lexicons and dic- 
tionaries, letters and manuscripts, were no where 
to be found. This zealous missionary appears to be 
a man of no ordinary stamp, judging by all we have 

* For a description of Buddha see Appendix. 



MISSIONARY EFFORTS. 



187 



heard of him from officers of the Force and others. 
Having resided some twenty years in Burmah he has 
amassed a vast quantity of information concerning 
the people and the country. His work of prose- 
lytism has been wonderfully successful. We believe 
he has twice visited the city of Ava ; and on one or 
more occasions experienced ill-treatment. If the 
truth were known, we dare say this American 
missionary has really been, like many before him, 
and like many at the present time, " in perils by the 
heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilder- 
ness, in perils among false brethren." Thinking 
seriously on the matter, there is something to greatly 
admire in those devoted men and women who labour 
in a distant land, consecrating their whole lives to an 
obedience to the Divine mandate, published by the 
Great Captain of our Salvation — " Go and preach 
the Gospel to every creature ! " There can be little 
doubt that the missionaries stand forth as the 
pioneers of civilization in Burmah. Regarding the 
missionary enterprise in a political point of view two 
things are requisite, above all others, moderation 
and patience ! — with these the grand cause must 
flourish — without them there can be no satisfactory 
result. And, musing carefully over the respective 
creeds of Brahmanism and Buddhism, very many 
may be apt to believe that the latter presents the 
easiest field for missionary labour; and, consequently, 
the chance of success must be greater. 



188 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



Mr. Burney's father was the late Resident at the 
Court of Ava, Colonel Burney, who, when the Bur- 
mese Government would have a Resident no longer, 
was yet requested by the King to stay as a friend. 

During the month of June, Captain Impey, who 
has already figured in fiction in this narrative, was 
quietly residing at Bankok, in Siam, under the 
assumed name of George Aylmer. At first he was 
reported to be drilling the King of Siam's troops ; 
but he was really there in the peaceful capacity of 
a merchant. The adventurous Captain "hoped to 
be appointed agent to the Singapore merchants at 
the capital of Siam." 

From the throne Amarinwinichai-Mahaisioriyaphe- 
man, great improvements are now expected in the 
government of Siam. The policy of exclusiveness 
is said to be, at length, abandoned ; and the Siamese 
King has taken to free trade, after a fashion, 
which is as necessary to the welfare of his kingdom, 
as to his own preservation. He has forbidden his 
own subjects the use of opium, and has made a 
vigorous effort to extend the commerce of his 
country. 

The following is interesting regarding a curious 
people, the " Karens," Deists, who occupy " the 
various mountainous and difficult tracts throughout 
Burmah, Pegu, the Tenasserim coast, and parts of 
the Shan and Siamese countries." The "second 
section of the great Karen tribe, which in Burmah 



STATE OP RANGOON. 



189 



has embraced Christianity by themselves, and is 
rapidly being organized into a nation, resides in 
Siam." * 

There is evidently a great change operating in 
the Siamese character. The pride of this nation has 
been described by some author of note, as so ex- 
cessive, that the lowest Siamese considered himself 
superior to the greatest subject of any other nation. 
In their literature, as with the Burmese, they have 
nothing to enforce upon them the folly of extreme 
pride. 

During this month, the Madras Artillery sus- 
tained a severe loss by the death of that excellent 
officer, Major Hugh Montgomery. 

We shall take farewell of June with simply al- 
luding to one melancholy event. The wife of the 
gallant officer, who fell at the storming of Rangoon, 
came hither in the Fire Queen to shed a tear over 
her husband's grave. 

By the commencement of July, Rangoon was a 
flourishing town, with some sixty or seventy thou- 
sand inhabitants. People to be seen of nearly every 
creed, and of every Asiatic nation. Of course, it 
was to be expected that among this numerous popu- 
lation lurked many men of questionable character. 
There was the slippery dacoit, who had come to try 
his hand, perhaps, upon a commissariat bullock ; 
there was the wily gambler who had come to cheat 
* Friend of India. 



190 



THE SECOND BUKMESE WAR. 



those who had money about them ; there was a spy 
or two who had just dropped in to look quietly at 
the state of affairs, and see whether our gallant 
General was on the qui vive or not ; but the majority 
consisted of those who were driven by hunger to flee 
from Burmese oppression, and who now rejoiced to 
live in certain security, under British protection ! 
Was it not for this, Providence sent us here ? Is 
not the Indian Government working out its grand 
destiny ? Near the beach is an immense bazaar, 
where fish, fruit, meat, and vegetables are sold. 
The vendors are women, old and young. There 
were on several occasions, pine-apples, plantains, and 
mangoes in abundance, for sale ; also pumpkins and 
cucumbers. The bekties and mangoe fish are, gene- 
rally speaking, very inferior to what we get in India. 

And, in addition to the necessaries of life, many 
articles of luxury were now procurable in Rangoon. 
Justice breathed under the vigilant magistracy of 
Captain Latter ; and, on the whole, civilization here 
seemed in a fair way of taking root. 

From such a point of prosperity in our narrative 
we pass on to the middle of July, when the welcome 
intelligence arrived of the success of an expedition 
of steamers which had been despatched up the Irra- 
waddy. 

The Flotilla was under Commander Tarleton, 
R.N. ; and the steamers employed were the Proser- 
pine, Pluto, Phlegethon, Medusa, and Mahanuddy. 



THE PROME QUESTION. 



191 



Prome had been circumvented ; the enemy's war- 
boats had been destroyed, and the Burmese put to 
flight, with the loss of forty guns. " It is all up 
with the army ! " said many. " There will be no 
medal for Prome ! " said a few. The wise said no- 
thing ; although it did certainly seem that J ames 
Watt had taken more than his share of the glory. 
The question of " Could not the General ere this 
have taken troops sufficient to Prome in the steamers 
and rafts ?" or, " Could he not have taken two thou- 
sand men, and at once have occupied Prome on this 
occasion ?" might be answered in various ways ; one 
of which might be assumed to be, " It would have 
been impolitic to have denuded Rangoon of troops, 
at such a period of the war, without the chance of im- 
mediate reinforcements. " Another, " Why occupy 
Prome immediately, when the wishes of Government 
are not known on the subject of annexation?" and 
another, " Why should the men be exposed at such 
a season as this, with the chance of, on their arrival 
at Prome, finding all the houses burned to the 
ground, and the ancient boundary between Pegu 
and Burmah utterly destroyed ? " 

The object of the expedition to Burmah was de- 
scribed by Lord Derby, in the House of Lords, 5 * as 
follows : — " To strike a blow against Rangoon and 
Martaban, which by striking terror into the minds of 
the Burmese, and by showing the efficiency of our 
♦ 5th of April, 1852. 



192 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



forces, would induce them to make peace on terms 
honourable to the British Government." Far more 
than this had been done. Bassein had been captured, 
and various minor successes had attended our arms ; 
and then the Burmese kept silence, while the Peguese 
seemed everywhere to desire our protection and go- 
vernment ; yet peace did not come from the Court 
of Ava ! With the golden-footed King, or his vile 
and dissolute advisers, she did not dwell ! 

All this would naturally tend to place the British 
Commander in a difficult position. Be this as it 
may, many thought Commander Tarleton had done 
a very fine thing. The General, just returned from 
a tour of inspection, was astonished at the event 
which had humiliated Prome, for a time. 

The following description of the affair was even- 
tually delivered by electric telegraph in Calcutta, 
when the Fire Queen came within telegraphic range 
of the City of Palaces : — " Prome was occupied on 
the 9th July. Twenty-two guns, many of large 
calibre, taken from the enemy by the steam flotilla 
in the Irrawaddy, under the command of J. W. 
Tarleton, R. N. Flotilla attacked on the 7th by 
a strong force of the enemy at Konongee. Silenced 
enemy's fire in an hour, and the steamers proceeded. 
On the 1 Oth, fell in with the rear of General Bun- 
doola's army, and, after an exchange of shots, the 
enemy fled in great confusion, leaving the General's 
state-barge, standard, two gold umbrellas, several 



THE BURMESE DESPOTISM. 



193 



large war-canoes, and twenty prisoners in our pos- 
session." A few officers were wounded, * and, on the 
whole twenty-eight guns were taken ; twenty-nine, 
by another account, and among them one forty-two 
pounder, and a fifty-four. Commander Tarleton, we 
believe, went through what may be styled the eastern 
channel, passing the Burmese who were drawn up in 
force, not on the island, but on the left bank of the 
river. This movement almost paralyzed the enemy ; 
and as our steamers were returning, war-boats 
were sent out to intercept their progress. Then 
commenced the work of destruction and capture 
which terminated this brilliant little affair. Strange 
enough, in almost deserted Prome, some inhabitants 
who sought our protection assisted the men in find- 
ing the guns. A poor Burmese, or Peguese labou- 
rer, on being asked by one of our officers why he 
acted thus, replied, " Because we are perishing under 
this Government ; no security for person, no security 
for property. If a man is possessed of five rupees 
to-day, and it becomes known, he is robbed of it 
by the greedy authorities to-morrow." No person 
in Burmah "ventures to exhibit his wealth by 
enjoying it, for means of extortion would soon be 
used to deprive him of it." 

The people are fleeced by these governors, who 

* According to this report, Lieutenant Elliot, El. M., Mr. J. 
Morgan, assist. -surgeon, H. M. S. Fox, Mr. Hunter, I. N., and 
Mr. Brayer, mate, I. N". 

() 



194 THE SECOND BUKMESE WAR. 



are delegated by the King to rule over them for a 
high consideration. And of course the chief object 
is to drain the coffers of their helpless charge by a 
system of oppression. 

Can it be otherwise, than that this people shall 
wish the dynasty of Alompra at an end ? The dog 
has had his day, he has earned a bad name, so hang 
him. This is the age of social progress and enlight- 
enment, and all such vile instruments of govern- 
ment must be swept away. What should such 
creatures as these do " crawling between earth 
and heaven?" The grand question which now 
arises is, iC Will it be wise and politic in our 
Government to annex the country to our eastern 
domain ? " We are inclined to answer in the affirma- 
tive. It will, we think, be both wise and politic to 
absorb Burmah, and place the worthless king on the 
list of pensioners. The country deserves care and 
trouble ; let us dispense the blessings of security and 
civilization, and ensure wealth and prosperity to a 
wide-spread and interesting people, whose domestic 
morals we may reform in the course of time, the 
vast and rich resources of whose country we shall 
be able to evolve for their own benefit as well as 
that of mankind at large. The Burmese would not 
require a great effort to be tamed under the paw of 
the British lion, and would form the most formidable 
barrier between our own and the Chinese empire. 
Another view advocates the annexation of the king- 



THE TALAINS AND BURMESE. 195 



dom of Pegu only to the British possessions in the 
East. This would humiliate the court of Ava, by 
taking away its best provinces, and would relieve 
the Peguese from tyranny and oppression.* And 
many Burmese would soon come under our pro- 
tection. At the close of the last war numbers of 
Burmese expatriated themselves ; they availed them- 
selves of a time and opportunity for emancipation 
from tyranny, nocked into the Tenasserim Pro- 
vinces, " and formed the nucleus of their future 
prosperity." 

The reader may now naturally inquire if any 
jealousy exists between the Talains and Burmese? 
Not nearly so much as might be expected. 

They are both of the Tartar race, f and each has 
been independent in its turn; neither of them is 
affected by caste : and excepting a little j ealousy 
which exists between the high Poongees, or priests, 
of the Burmese and Talains — said simply to have 
reference to temporal dignity and position, without 
a tendency to produce schism — there is not more 
envy than we observe every day between any two 
men of a different trade or country. The question 
remains open whether "the independent sea-board 
power of Pegu or the comparatively land-locked 

* Moulmein Times, June 25. 

f This is of course an assumption ; the people of further 
India are supposed by Mr. Crawfurd to be radically distinct 
from any other Asiatic race. 



196 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 

kingdom of Ava were most likely to have first 
received the missionaries of Buddhism." # The 
Tenasserim Provinces have yielded no actual 
surplus revenue to British India. They have, on 
the contrary, cost us a few thousands a year. 
And why? Because at the close of the last war 
we occupied a country which could never be made 
to pay its expenses. We occupied this and the 
swamps of Arracan, while the once glorious king- 
dom of Pegu stretched out its arms to receive us ! 
The Tenasserim Provinces have never paid their 
expenses ; but, says the Friend of India, taking his 
own view of the annexation question, " This is no 
reason why the rich province of Pegu, with its 
inexhaustible forests of teak, its fertile soil, its 
noble rivers, its mineral resources, and its indus- 
trious population, should not, under the impulse 
of improvement — which we shall not fail to impart 
to it — more than cover the whole expense of its 
occupation. Nor must we forget that we secure, 
at the same time, four or five millions of consumers 
of our manufactures — that is, according to the 
extent of territory we may appropriate — and open 
new marts of commerce." Rangoon, at no very 
distant period, would become the Liverpool or 
Glasgow of further India. Immense traffic would 
naturally crown such an admirable commercial 
position, and the woods, grain, oils and minerals of 
* Calcutta Review. 



THE ANNEXATION QUESTION. 



197 



Pegu, with its various other commodities, would be 
diffused throughout the civilized world. 

And why should not this be brought about ? The 
entire people of Southern Burmah seeking our rule, 
Rangoon and Kemmendine filled with inhabitants, 
the Peguese, according to General Godwin, " de- 
cidedly and ever our friends," what can we seek 
more ? Or, it may be better to say, what need we 
wish more, when we shall have invested and occu- 
pied Prome by British troops? A consummation, 
doubtless, near at hand ! " From Prome to the 
Aeng Pass on one side," writes an authority, " and 
to Martaban, taking the Sitang River as the boun- 
dary on the other, would give us the whole sea- 
board, and Pegu in its integrity, whilst it would still 
leave a noble territory to the Court of Ava, larger 
than, for the interests of the people, it ought to 
possess." So much confidence, General Godwin ap- 
pears to have in the Peguese, that he is said to have 
stated at Rangoon, " if he had the authority to pro- 
mise annexation, he would levy a militia of these 
fellows, and go with them and a portion of our force, 
to Prome at once." 

The Phlegethon, under Captain Niblett, took a trip 
to Donabew in May. No fortifications were found 
there, merely the town, and the remains of the work 
destroyed in the last war. 

The General Bundoola, whose name has ap- 
peared, while narrating the temporary capture of 



198 



THE SECOND BUKMESE WAK. 



Prome by Commander Tarleton, was the son of our 
gallant and determined enemy during the last war, 
who said, not long before his death at Donabew, 
that the English did not know how to fight, and 
that he would take the British General in chains to 
Ava ! The report for some time had been rife at 
Rangoon that Bundoola junior was coming down to 
make a grand stand. He had forty thousand of the 
King of Ava's chosen troops with him, goodly men 
and true. 

Probably the Golden Foot thought that the name 
of Bundoola would act like magic on the people. 
Such is well enough in France, perhaps, but it will 
not do in Asiatic countries. The master-mind was 
wanting. Bundoola proved himself, on the occasion 
referred to, to be a disgrace to his father's name ; he 
fled bodily, probably to drown his misfortune in dis- 
sipation, to which, report says, the would-be Bun- 
doola the Great is very much addicted. 

But this may be too rash a conclusion, for we may 
have to encounter him yet ! However, there is not 
much to fear. The East Indian Government are 
working out a grand destiny. Providence seems to 
have ordained that they should " go forth conquering 
and to conquer." To advance is life — to retire is 
death. Such assurances ably cheer the onward 
march of civilization. 

To review the affairs of a mighty government, there 
must be no- prejudice, no feelings of revenge; there 



LORD DERBY'S SPEECH. 



199 



must be amplitude of comprehension and an intimate 
acquaintance with the subject. YTithout these, a fair 
and candid judgment can never be passed on civil 
or military affairs. Thoughts like these are apt to 
crowd upon the mind at a time when India is about 
to occupy a greater share of public attention than 
ever ; at a time when a natural desire exists among 
so many that justice may be done to India, and to 
the Honourable East India Company. It was highly 
pleasing to read the speech delivered by the first 
Minister of the Crown on Friday, the 2nd of April. 
Justice was then done to the Company, which, 
" from an humble origin, established in a compara- 
tively short period, the mightiest empire under the 
sun, redeeming any errors of rapacity and lust in its 
early stages by the wise government and enlight- 
ened humanity by which, in later times, it had 
achieved a dominion absolute and uncontrolled, 
whether by the direct exercise of its authority, or by 
an influence not less absolute than actual authority, 
over a district of country extending from Cape 
Comorin on the south, to the borders of Burinah, of 
Cashmere, Cabul, and Affghanistan on the north, 
and embracing, I think, something like 28° of lati- 
tude (cheers) : a vast district inhabited by a popula- 
tion which I believe I am within the mark when I 
set down at 150,000,000, exercising its authority 
over a population of various races, and of various 
religions, who have been often in hostility to each 



200 THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



other, but who now, conquerors and conquered, agree 
to submit to the jurisdiction of a comparatively small 
body of Europeans ; a company which has secured its 
power, not so much by the sword as by the wisdom 
of its councillors ; which has seen succumb to it, one 
after another, the mightiest monarchies of India, and 
which, without any attempt at conquest — nay, con- 
trary to its wish — has seen the populations of those 
monarchies gradually freeing themselves, under the 
protection of its authority. It was not less extraor- 
dinary that this vast empire should be maintained by 
an army of 285,000 men, composed mainly of na- 
tives, every variety of religion and grades, equally 
loyal to their conquerors. It was a task of mag- 
nitude to investigate the machinery by which this 
great territory was superintended." 

With reference again to the grand question, 
Whether Prome, or Amerapoora, would be on the 
northern boundary of our grasp, a highly intel- 
ligent officer writes, (< Why, here is a country, the 
conquest of which would cost comparatively a small 
outlay of men and money, of much greater value to 
us than the Punjaub, as a maritime and commercial 
people, from its geographical superiority and advan- 
tages, to say nothing of its productions which are of 
the most remarkable kind." Thus is the matter 
looked upon in the light of a commercial necessity. 

Some talk of Ava and Prome making " con- 
venient appendages'' to Calcutta, "rounding off" 



EXTENT OF THE INDIAN GOVEKNMENT. 201 



our possessions in the East. And once having 
moved inland it will be difficult to stop short of the 
Sea of China.* " No fear of our Empire," says a 
bold son of Progress, " falling to pieces from its own 
size, were it extended from the Caspian to the Wall 
of China, so long as the country is rich enough to meet 
its own chargeSf and is possessed of a defensible 
frontier." 

At present, what a wonderful object of contem- 
plation is our Indian Government! One hundred 
and fifty millions of the human race to govern ! 
Including Arracan, the Burmese empire was stated 
many years ago to contain seventeen millions of 
souls. It now cannot be less than twenty millions. 
So, should we become eventually possessed of the 
inheritance of the House of Alompra, the Indian 
Government will exercise their authority over little 
less than one-fifth of the whole human family ! 
The Tenasserim Provinces, at present, contain about 
150,000 souls — a thin population for an area which 
has been set down at 30,000 square miles. 

On Tuesday, the 27th of July, the Governor- 
General of India arrived at Rangoon, in the Com- 
pany's steam-frigate Feroze. 

Welcome intelligence, at the same time, came from 

* " The peninsula is scarcely a thousand miles across, and is 
penetrated by noble rivers, from north to south and from east 
to west — and we could advance from both shores, were we so 
inclined." 



202 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



England, that the fall of Rangoon and Martaban had 
drawn forth a feeling of unqualified admiration of 
the skill and courage of our troops. Soon after his 
arrival in the river General Godwin and Commodore 
Lambert paid Lord Dalhousie a visit. The weather 
was by no means auspicious for such an important 
event as the arrival of the head of the Indian Go- 
vernment on these shores. The day was rainy, and 
dark, and dreary-looking, as if it were determined to 
repel the message of light to Burmah. -But, as usual 
at this season, it cleared up in the afternoon ; and 
everything around seemed bright and beautiful. 
Next morning there was a grand parade, in honour 
of the Governor- General ; the time he had appointed 
for landing was seven o'clock. Punctual, as usual, 
the Noble Marquis landed ; and, entering the 
stockade, passed through the street, lined with troops 
to the south gate of the great Pagoda. H. M. 18th 
Royal Irish furnished the guard of honour below, 
and the Artillery, of course, furnished its guard of 
honour* above, on the upper terrace. What with 
the various salutes — the shipping having thundered 
away in the river, and the Artillery in the upper 
terrace — and the general excitement, there was a 
temporary relief from our rather monotonous life at 
Rangoon. Music, too, welcome music, was now to 
be heard. The Governor- General was accompanied 
on his visit by Major Banks, acting as Military 
* Under Captain Cooke, Madras Artillery. 



LORD DALHOUSIE AT RANGOON". 203 



Secretary, Mr. Charles Allen, Foreign Secretary, 
his Aides-de-camp, Sir Edward Campbell, Captain 
D'Oyley, and others. He was received, on reach- 
ing the base of the great Pagoda, by Colonel 
Ford, the Artillery Commandant, who introduced 
Major Back and Brigade - Major Scott to his 
Lordship. 

The illustrious party wandered round the Temple, 
of course wondering and admiring. ' f I am astonished 
how your men got in here, with such defences!" 
remarked the Governor-General, who was also 
pleased to express his high approbation of the 
soldier-like appearance of the Artillery guard of 
honour. The quaint-looking houses of some of the 
officers, on the upper terrace, must have excited the 
attention of the strange party : nor could they 
have been less astonished at the bells, huge, 
and now dumb, monsters of sound ; and the 
splendid view of the country and river from the 
parapets. 

While the Governor-General was residing at 
Rangoon, of course the curiosity of every one was 
excited to the utmost. What was going to be done? 
Would there be now an immediate advance on 
Prome, to follow up the recent successful achieve- 
ment ? — when immediate annexation would doubtless 
follow. 

On the arrival of reinforcements a force will be 
sent through the Aeng Pass into the basin of the 



204 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



Irrawaddy, to cut off all communication between 
Ava and Prome. A force will also proceed from 
Martaban up the Sitang river ; and the principal 
force will start from Rangoon in the steamers. 
There will be no bullocks to destroy the efficiency of 
the Artillery, and delay the army in its onward 
progress. The rivers in October and November will 
have water sufficient for steamers of considerable 
size to proceed up with perfect safety. " There 
are steamers enough to take an army to Ava, 
without wetting the sole of a man's foot." All these 
remarks became current during the stay of the Go- 
vernor-General at Rangoon. 

But, with regard to marching, no one could pre- 
tend to give an exact opinion as to the intentions of 
General Godwin. To conquer a country thoroughly 
you must march through it ; there must be no rebels 
hanging on your rear. This is a general view of the 
custom of war. With a river possessing such capa- 
bilities as the Irrawaddy much steaming, however, 
to save marching through an injurious and swampy 
soil, one would imagine to have every chance of 
greatly facilitating the operations, and of bringing 
the campaign to a brilliant and glorious termination. 
To use the steamers as much as possible may be yet 
the intention of our gallant General. The Pluto, 
in July, anchored off Prome, in eight fathoms 
water. Cox and Crawfurd both mention that the 
rise of the Irrawaddy at Prome is from twenty to 



LORD DALHOUSIE DEPARTS. 



205 



twenty-five feet, and that large vessels* have been 
built there. 

Our steamers give us the entire command of the 
Irrawaddy below Prome — "in fact, of the whole of 
the Lower Provinces." Steam would soon render 
Pegu truly British in character ; and, with its 
auxiliary, the Press, it might soon form the nucleus 
of civilization in a new land, which would be sure to 
flourish under a wise and liberal Government. After 
holding a levee the Governor- General left Panor>on 
on Sunday, the 1st of August, much pleased with his 
visit. It is believed he waits instructions from 
England, which could not be received before the end 
of September; so, on the great question, we were 
left in the dark as much as ever. It was not 
decided on whether we should take the entire Bur- 
mese Empire, or simply unite the two disjointed 
provinces of Arracan and Moulmein, by annexing 
the intermediate Delta of the Irrawaddy. 

Why should not this at least be done while 
America is endeavouring to humble the Empire of 
Japan ? 

Before this work is published in England it is not 
improbable that much good work will be effected in 
India beyond the Ganges. And now, to close this 
humble narrative :f — The town is flourishing beyond 

* Of from 300 to 500 tons burthen. 

f The expense of the present Burmese war, up to the 1st of 
July, has been set down by one journal in Calcutta at fifty 



206 



THE SECOND BUKMESE WAR. 



all possibility of conception. In the last war Ran- 
goon had but few tenants. It was peopled chiefly 
by the army and its followers. When we landed in 
April last the town was almost deserted. Now the 
case is entirely changed ; the people place confidence 
in us, and rush to seek our protection. Should we 
soon advance a grand success will inevitably be 
achieved. This time, it is not probable that cunning 
Burmese diplomacy will be allowed to have a hand in 
the business. There will be no time for an inter- 
change of civilities now. 

The Burmese are crafty ; but the British are 
earnest in a good cause. There will be no Dr. 
Jonathan Price, excellent man as he was, rushing 
backwards and forwards to Ava, bringing doubtful 
intelligence, and only a portion of the treasure at a 
time. There will be no deputations to the King 
to present gifts of state. When we get to Prome, 
or beyond it, trifling must cease. There will be 
much business of vast importance to transact; and 
there can be little doubt of its being transacted in 
a manner highly creditable to the Government of 
British India. 

lakhs of rupees (500,000?). But we agree with another, that 
" it is impossible to form even a proximate calculation of the 
expenses of the war." 

It is said, that when reinforcements arrive from Bengal 
and Madras, General Godwin's army will number about 1 8,000 
men. 



COMPLIMENTARY GENERAL ORDER. 207 



The following is Lord Dalhousie's concise and 
elegant farewell-gift to the force at Rangoon : — 

" The Major-General * commanding, has the high- 
est gratification in publishing to the troops the fol- 
lowing General Order by the Most Noble the 
Governor-General of India : — 

" Rangoon, 1st August, 1852. 

" The Most Noble the Governor-General of India 
cannot forego the opportunity which is afforded to 
him by his visit to Rangoon, for again offering the 
combined force his most cordial acknowledgment 
of the valuable and distinguished services they have 
rendered here. The gratification which the Governor- 
General experiences in thus congratulating the force 
on its success in the field, is greatly enhanced by 
his being able to add the expression of his unquali- 
fied approbation of its conduct in quarters. 

" In every branch, whether Naval or Military, 
European or Native, the force has exhibited an 
orderly conduct and inoffensive demeanour towards 
the people of the country and a spirit of sound dis- 
cipline, which are as truly honourable to its charac- 
ter as the high distinction it has won in battle. 

" Whatever may be the future course of this 
service, whatever may be the ultimate fate of this 
country, the Governor- General has the proud satis- 

* By the recent order, the Brevet-Lieut.-General was in 
several cases cancelled, and our gallant commander was among 
them. 



208 



THE SECOND BURMESE WAR. 



faction of feeling that the people of Burmah will 
hereafter associate with the presence of a British 
force among them no other recollections than those 
of its irresistible bravery in the field, of its order, 
forbearance, and obedience in the camp. 

" (By command) 
(Signed) " J. S. Banks, 

S( Assistant-Military-Secretary 
to the Governor-General." 



SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. 



SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. 



Note 1, page 18. 

The Friend of India writes — " In making Pegu 
British, we take from the kingdom of Burmah its chief 
financial resources, and its political strength; we de- 
prive it of the sinews of war. It is to this prostration 
of the power of the Burmese, and the dread in- 
spired in the Court by our own power, that we must 
look for the security of our new border-line. For the 
last twenty-five years, they have occupied the territory 
lying between our own provinces of Arracan and of 
Moulmein. A line of hills separates the former from 
Pegu ; but there are three or four passes, through which 
a barbarian army, unencumbered with artillery and com- 
missariat stores, might at any time have invaded the 
province, while Moulmein has always been open to in- 
cursion." 

The same journalist reviews an admirable work, by 
the Rev. F. Mason, M.A., entitled il Tenasserim ; or, 
Notes on the Fauna, Flora, Minerals, and Nations of 
British Burmah, and Pegu." In this work, by a learned 
missionary, will be found much valuable and interesting 



212 



SUPPLEMENT AKY NOTES. 



information. In this age, when gold in California and 
in Australia is drawing- so many adventurers from their 
native land, it may interest mankind to learn that, 
according to the work in question, gold is plentiful in 
Pegu; it is distributed all over the provinces; "all 
the streams from the lofty granite mountains bring down 
their tribute of the precious metal." " There is a rumour 
widely current in Burmah, that valuable mines are known 
to the Burmese Court ; but the secret is strictly guarded, 
because the treasures of the earth are regarded as a kind 
of royal reserve-fund, only to be drawn upon in great 
emergencies." One would have thought our present occu- 
pation of Rangoon, Bassein, and Martaban, to be " a 
great emergency;" but where, up to the middle of 
August, is the gold, the yellow, glittering gold, we 
require, with other conditions — and to which we are now 
legally entitled ? 

Pegu is called by the Talains Suhurnulhumi, or the 
land of gold. Mr. Mason endeavours to prove that it is 
no other than the Ophir of Solomon. " The ancient 
name of Moubee, in the delta of the Irrawaddy, was 
Suvanna-nadee, or ( river of gold;' indicating that Pegu 
was famous in antiquity for its gold ; and gold and silver 
appear to have been much more abundant than they are 
now, even three centuries ago." " The Sanscrit form of 
Suvana is Suverna; and this, when the final sy liable is 
dropped, is nearly identical with Soupheir, the Greek 
name of Ophir." 

We had read somewhere of our own India supposed to 
be Ophir; but this proof of Mr. Mason's is quite new, 
and as convincing as most proofs from etymology. 



SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. 



213 



The Burmese language is said to be a compound of the 
ancient Pali with the Sanscrit, the Tartar, and the 
Chinese. ("The Encyclopedia of Geography.") 

Note 2, page 93. 

Regarding the capture of the Great Da goon Pagoda, 
the General's despatch contains the following reasons for 
not advancing on the 13th : — " On Tuesday, the 13th, 
it was reported, the heavy battery-guns could not be 
landed, and be with me, before the middle of that day ; 
and, also, that rations for the troops could not be pre- 
pared in time to enable me to advance. I therefore held 
my position till the next morning." 

Nothing can be more natural in an officer of high 
standing than a disposition in favour of his own branch 
of the service; that in which he has won honour and 
renown. The veteran warrior, Sir Charles Napier, at the 
Preston Waterloo dinner, said to the 50th Regiment — 
" There has been a great deal of talk about the Minie 
rifle ; but I can assure you, 50th, there is nothing like 
i Old Brown Bess,' with a fixed bayonet, a strong* arm, 
a strong heart, and strong courage." Very true ; but to 
bring these grand qualities into highly successful opera- 
tion, it strikes one, especially where attacks on outworks 
and a strongly-fortified position are probable, that the 
most powerful arm in war should occupy the chief im- 
portance. General Godwin, then, may have said, and 
will say, he could not have advanced the first day 
without landing at least two of the heavy guns, with a 
large supply of ammunition for these, and ample for the 
light-field batteries, to take along with him. 



214 



SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. 



It may be brought forward in support of the advance 
on the 12th, that the artillery of the shipping had suffi- 
ciently exercised the powerful arm of destruction. In the 
chances of war, this would appear to carry a species of 
justification along with it. The military critic then 
replies — But why talk of chance, now-a-days, when an 
overwhelming display of ordnance, in the first instance, 
against every point of attack reduces operations almost to 
a certainty of success ? But, after all, it is more difficult 
to do, than to know " what were good to do ; " yet we 
have been highly successful ; and history will record that 
the capture of Rangoon opened the Second Burmese 
War with " a brilliant feat of arms." 

Being desirous of doing justice to every corps alluded 
to in this narrative, we asked for any memos, of informa- 
tion regarding regiments employed on the 12th and 14th 
of April. The following was kindly sent by Lieutenant 
and Adjutant Becher, 40th B. N. I. : — 

"The 40th B. N. I., brigaded with H. M.'s 18th R. I., 
and wing of H. M.'s 80th Regiment, landed on the 
morning of the 12th of April ; and, after the capture of 
the White House Picquet, several of its companies were 
employed skirmishing with the enemy in the jungles to 
the front and left of the road, during the greater part 
of the afternoon. Two sepoys were killed, and five were 
wounded. On the 14th, our place in the column of ad- 
vance was next to the 18th R. I. Whilst halted under the 
shelter of the hills to the left of the road, the Grenadier 
Company entire, and several more of our men, lent very 
willing and effective aid in helping on the heavy guns 
and ammunition-waggons, under a smart fire from the Pa- 



SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. 



215 



goda guns. We were much pleased with their alacrity 
on this occasion. [It was noticed and admired by several 
Artillery officers present.] The Light Company, and No. 
6, the latter commanded by Lieutenant White, and the 
former by Lieutenant Burn, with Ensign Stone attached, 
formed part of the storming-party, and entered the Pa- 
goda at the same time with the Companies of the 80th 
and 18th. During the advance of the storming-party, 
three Companies, under Major Chitty, were employed 
skirmishing through the jungle to the right ; the rest of 
the Regiment remained to protect the guns, and after- 
wards escorted them into the stockade. Majors Cotton 
and Minchin, also Lieutenants Maisey and Harris, of the 
67th B. N. L, were doing duty with the 40th." 

The death of Lieutenant-Colonel G. Thomson, of the 
40th B. N. I., took place in Fort William, on the 26th 
of July. He had contracted the severe illness, which at 
length proved fatal, at Rangoon. 

With regard to the works of the fortress, it may be 
mentioned, that the cutting off a long projecting right 
flank was proposed by that gallant and talented officer, 
Colonel Apthorp, 35th M. N. I. ; his suggestion was taken 
up by the field engineer, and a breast-work was thrown 
up (en cremalliere). The construction of the new barracks 
for the European troops does infinite credit to Major 
Frazer and the Engineer Department. Westward, inside 
the grand stockade, these buildings, admirably adapted 
to the climate, possess every appearance of comfon 
You reach them, say by passing along a splendid ant' 
spacious road, flanked by other barracks, which the engi- 
neers have constructed for the native troops, when you 



216 



SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. 



are immediately impressed with an idea of the rapid 
march of civilization. There seems to lurk the com- 
mencement of a new and important British station. The 
18th and 80th Regiments (the whole of the latter being 
now present, the remaining- wing- having- arrived from 
Calcutta towards the middle of August) occupy these 
European barracks. H. M.'s 51st have new barracks on 
the eastern side of the Pagoda. There is now covering 
in Rangoon, for a large army. 

Note 3, page 104. 

One of the most important and interesting incidents 
of this war is to be found in the " volunteering for 
Burmah." The 4th Sikh Local Horse, and another Sikh 
corps, are to form a portion of the gallant "army at 
Ava." Those who came forward as our bitterest enemies 
in December, 1845, through the wonderful nature of our 
Government, probably are, in October, November, or 
December, 1852, to assist us either in taking entire pos- 
session of Pegu, or in humiliating the Burmese, and 
planting the British standard on the walls of Ava ! The 
two Sikh reo-iments for Burmah were to commence their 

o 

downward march on the 15th of August. 



Note 4, page 193. 

The proceedings of Captain Tarleton's expedition, 
which was sent to reconnoitre Prome, have been briefly 
narrated. The Burmese, it appears, were located in 
great numbers on the left bank of the river. On this 
bank, in commanding positions, were bastions mounted 



SUPPLEMENT AKY NOTES. 



217 



with cannon. But the steamers took the other channel, 
or right branch, and reached the main river uninjured. 
The steamers were "nine days in going* up to Prome, 
staying there two days and returning." A small steamer 
belonging to the King of Ava "had left for Ava only 
the day previous to the arrival of our steamers." 

In a second expedition, Captain Tarleton repassed the 
fortified rock, a little below Prome, where General Bun- 
doola had before taken up position. It was deserted ; 
but more guns were found. 

Note 5, page 203. 

Some interesting intelligence has been received from 
Sandoway and Arracan. The Aeng' River has been now 
proved to be u navigable for steamers, having a lig'ht 
draught, upwards of thirty miles further than has hitherto 
been supposed to be the case. This is no trifling advan- 
tage, should the authorities decide on sending any troops 
to Burmah by the Aeng Pass." 

" Lieutenant Fytche, the very active civil officer at 
Sandoway, has, after great exertions, opened a land com- 
munication between that place and Bassein, a communi- 
cation which is effected in seven days, and can be con- 
tinued thence to Rangoon in three or four more." 

The following intelligence is terrible ! — " The Burmese, 
who come across, say the troops at the capital, are deter- 
mined to fight like devils; and that two brigades are 
formed, one termed the Invulnerable, the other the 
Invincibles, which are to cut all the English to pieces !" 

Captain Barry, commanding" the Arracan Battalion, on 
hearing of General Godwin's successes, "turned out a 



218 



SUPPLEMENTARY NOT-fcS. 



couple of guns, and e woke the slumbering 1 echoes ' of the 
passes with a Royal salute, much to the astonishment of 
the natives." 

Note 6, page 205. 

An intelligent officer, at the commencement of the 
war, remarked that it was probable, in the cold weather, 
that Assam would make a demonstration against Burmah. 
It now appears that the Munipore Rajah is all energy to 
repel Burmese invasion. But an advance from Burmah 
on Upper Assam or Munipore at this season would be 
impracticable. The distance that divides Munipore from 
Burmah Proper is 300 miles. The routes, in every 
respect, are described as insurmountable. Nevertheless, 
in the last war, the Burmese poured their troops down on 
Arracan through the Aeng Pass, and into Cachar through 
Munipore ; so, in the rainy season, they might be tempted 
u to beat up our quarters in Cachar, and in the Province 
of Arracan." " The troops collected at Arracan might 
form the nucleus of the array which would march 
across the Aeng Pass, during the cold weather, into the 
valley of the Irrawaddy, and co-operate with the army 
from Rangoon in its march to the capital, where," says 
the Friend, " alone we can make peace with any confi- 
dence of its permanency." 

The Nemesis* and Fire Queen — the former distin- 
guished in the China war — are added to our number of 
useful steamers. 

* Of course now it is natural to expect that the General, when 
reinforcements arrive, will avail himself of the powerful aid of the 
steam flotilla. One writer says — " What is to hinder the placing of 



SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. 



219 



From all accounts, there appears to be no want of 
water to navigate the mighty Irrawaddy with our small 
steamers. What a magnificent undertaking — the British 
ascending, perhaps slowly, but surely, " capturing Meea- 
day, Patnagoh, Pagham, and many towns of importance, 
situated principally on the left bank," and then reaching 
and taking possession of the capital ! From Rangoon, 
Donabew is less than 100 miles up the stream ; Prome 
is about 130 from Donabew ; and from Prome to Ava, 
say, is 260. By annexing the Delta only, we shall have 
a population which "would effectually counteract the 
hostility of the Burmese. " Should this be done, to 
repel Burmese invasion of British Pegu — a crisis not 
altogether improbable — would bring on a third Burmese 
war, which would last but a short time, and surely end in 
the entire annexation to the British dominions of Alom- 
pra's once powerful empire. 

We shall conclude these brief " Notes" with one from 
the letter of an intelligent officer, bringing the narrative 
fairly down to August, 1852 : — " Captain Tarleton has 
been as far as Meeaday " (some forty miles above Prome) 
" and burnt the Governor's house, and a number of 
war-boats. The town was deserted on the approach of 
the steamers; and Captain Tarleton carefully preserved 
it from destruction or pillage." 

the troops in large, covered, flat-bottomed boats, a whole string of 
which might easily be towed by a single steamer ? This plan was 
adopted in China, and many of the officers who served there may 
remember to have seen the little steamer Nemesis ascending the 
Canton river at the head of a train of boats, containing no less than 
three thousand men ! " 



220 



SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. 



[Some interesting- notes of a scientific nature were ex- 
pected from Bassein. The last boat from that port has 
been robbed by dacoits ; so it is to be feared they have 
shared their fate with the rest of the mail. This followed 
rather closely on another attack on Martaban, not alluded 
to in the previous Notes, but one of little importance.] 



APPENDIX. 



APPENDIX, 



APPENDIX I. 

MINUTE BY THE GOVEBNOB-GENEEAL. 
(Extract.) 

February, 12, 1852. 

The despatch of Commodore Lambert, dated the 2nd 
instant, contains the reply of the Governor of Rangoon 
to the letter from the Government of India, dated the 
26th ultimo. 

That letter contained the ultimatum of the British 
Government. It required — 

1st. That the Government should transmit a written 
apology for the insult to which the British officers had 
been subjected at Rang-oon on the 6th of January last. 

2nd. That he should pay, immediately, the sum of 
9,900 rupees, demanded as compensation to Captain 
Sheppard and Captain Lewis. 

3rd. That he should consent to receive in due and 
fitting manner, the agent who should be appointed under 
the treaty of Yandaboo. 

If the Governor of Rangoon should at once make 



224 



APPENDIX. 



these concessions, the Government of India agreed to 
send an envoy for the adjustment of every difference, and 
the king's ship was to be restored. 

The reply of the Governor of Rangoon, far from mak- 
ing the required concessions, has evaded them all. 

The demand for an apology on account of the insult 
offered to British officers at Rangoon is practically re- 
jected, with a remark most offensive in the inference it 
implies. 

The reparation to the persons plundered has not been 
paid. 

There is no consent given to an agent being received. 

The reply of the Governor, after reiterating complaints 
of the proceeding of our officers, simply states that the 
envoy of rank, to whom reference was made, should be 
sent, and that conference would then be held regarding 
payment of reparation, and the restoration of the king's 
ship. 

This letter leaves to the Government of India, in my 
deliberate judgment, no alternative but to exact repara- 
tion by force of arms. 

If, allured by the specious appearance of a desire for 
reconciliation, contained in the Governor's suggestion that 
an envoy should now be sent, the Government of India 
shall acquiesce in that request, it will suffer itself to be 
decoyed into a feeble and false position. 

It will, in so doing*, openly abandon every demand for 
reparation it has so peremptorily and justly advanced: 
It will tamely submit itself to national insult. It will 
give reasonable ground, for all who desire it, to assert 
that the offensive accusation of its officers, by the Go- 



APPENDIX. 



225 



vernor of Rangoon, must needs be true, since his treat- 
ment of those officers, and his subsequent accusation of 
them, are alike unresented; and not only so, but they 
are themselves superseded by another negotiation. In 
one word, the position of the two Governments will be 
suddenly and wholly reversed. 

These acts on the part of the Government of India 
will, undoubtedly, be misconstrued; its motives in so 
acting" will be misunderstood; and, in the eyes of the 
Burmese nation, and of every eastern people that is 
looking* on, the British Government having relinquished 
the demand it had peremptorily advanced, and having 
abandoned the officers it was bound to uphold, will un- 
questionably be regarded as having submitted to humilia- 
tion and avowed defeat. 

I have sincerely desired, and have earnestly laboured 
for the preservation of peace ; but I cannot consistently 
with the duty which I owe to the State, consent to pur- 
chase a present peace at so costly a price. 

The commencement of war is an act of such solemn 
importance, and involves so deep a responsibility, that I 
consider it right to pass in review the events which have 
led, so rapidly and so unexpectedly, to the present hostili- 
ties with Burmah, in order to absolve the Government 
of India from the reproach of having lightly sought a 
quarrel, or insufficiently striven to avert it. 

For many years past, complaints, from time to time, 
have been made of acts of oppression and of violation of 
Treaty by the Burmese Governors. None, however, had 
been brought forward of sufficient extent or signiflcancv 
to call for the formal notice of this Government. 

Q 



226 



APPENDIX. 



But a few months ago, representations were addressed 
to the Government of India by the captains of two 
English merchantmen, setting- forth very gross acts of 
violence and outrageous violation of the rights of British 
subjects by the Governor of Rangoon. The facts ap- 
peared unquestioned, — the right of those persons to claim 
the protection of their Government, and through it to 
obtain redress and reparation, was undoubted. 

The Government of India accordingly requested Com- 
modore Lambert, in command of certain of Her Majesty's 
ships, to proceed to Rangoon, for the purpose of repre- 
senting the wrong that had been done, and of seeking 
redress. 

The rank of that officer, and his standing, not merely 
pointed him out as the proper officer to be entrusted 
with this demand, but seemed to render it inexpedient 
that any officer of less rank should be employed while 
he was present. Commodore Lambert was supplied with 
precise instructions for his guidance ; and it was specially 
enjoined upon him, that no act of hostility should be 
committed, though the reply of the Governor should be 
unfavourable ; nor until the definite instructions,* re- 
garding such hostilities, should be given by the Govern- 
ment of India. 

Upon his arrival at Rangoon, Commodore Lambert 
found it, in his judgment, impracticable to treat in any 
way with the then Governor of that province ; and, as 
the most 'probable mode of conducting the matter to a 
peaceable* conclusion, he transmitted at once the letter 
from the Government of India to the King of Ava, 
* Letter of Secretary to Government, Oct. 31, 1851. 



APPENDIX. 



227 



requiring the removal of the Governor, and the reparation 
claimed for the injury done to the captains of the ships. 

In due time, an answer was received at Rangoon from 
the king*. It was couched in friendly terms, and pro- 
mised that the Governor should be removed, and that 
redress should be afforded. 

The Governor was accordingly removed, and his suc- 
cessor arrived at Rangoon. 

In reply to a message which was conveyed to him on 
the 5th of January, the Governor stated that " he would 
be most happy, at any time, to receive any communica- 
tion from the Commodore."* 

On the following* day, the 6th of January, a deputation, 
headed by Captain Fishbourne, the next officer in rank to 
Commodore Lambert, proceeded to the Governor's resi- 
dence, for the purpose of delivering to him a letter from 
the Commodore, on behalf of the British Government. 
The officers were refused admittance. 
Assuming that there was, in the deputing of these 
officers, a neglect of strict form, although (be it ob- 
served) no such forms had been attended to on his 
own part, by the Governor of Rangoon, whose letter 
had been conveyed to the Commodore by officers of the 
humblest rank, and admittance had been freely grantetd 
to them ; admitting, I say, that ceremonial had not been 
duly observed, the omission affords no justification what 
ever, for the insult and contumely which were publicly 
heaped upon these officers, the known agents, for the 
time, of the Government they served. 

They were not merely denied admittance to the pre- 
* Captain Latter's Report. 



228 



APPENDIX. 



sence of the Governor, upon pleas whose falsehood was 
proved by his own messages at the time ; but they were 
not permitted to enter within the door. No officer was 
deputed to them for explanation ; one official after another 
passed them without notice, while standing in the public 
court, under the heat of the sun, and when they sought 
shelter from its rays, they were hidden to go under a shed 
provided for the lowest classes of the people when attend- 
ing the courts. 

No further notice was taken of their presence, and the 
officers, after long delay, at length were compelled to re- 
tire from the door. 

The persons of the officers were known, their mission 
was known, their approach had been announced ; and 
although the omission of the ceremonial form to which I 
have alluded, might have given to the Governor a plau- 
sible pretext for declining to receive the officers in per- 
son, his own conduct in the transmission of his com- 
munications had greatly weakened that pretext ; while 
nothing could justify the gross, deliberate, and studied 
affront which was put upon the British Government, 
in the person of its officers, conveying a communication 
on its behalf to the representative of the King of Ava. 

No apology whatever was made by the Governor of 
Rangoon ; that which the Commodore required was re- 
jected, and none was offered in any other form. 

On the contrary, the Governor of Rangoon addressed 
to the Government of India a letter, accusing the officers, 
on the occasion to which I have referred, of having pre- 
sented themselves in a state of intoxication ; thus aggra- 
vating the insult he was bound to repair. 



APPENDIX. 



229 



Since this imputation has been placed upon record, I 
think it rig'ht to express my conviction, that if such con- 
duct were not altogether incredible in any British officer 
engaged in a formal mission to a foreign Governor, at 
noon-day, the unimpeachable character of Captain Fish- 
bourne is in itself a sufficient guarantee that no one per- 
mitted to accompany him could be in any degree open 
to so scandalous a charge. The statement is truly that 
which I have designated it — an insult at once to the 
officers employed, and to their Government to which it has 
been addressed. 

The act of the Governor of Eangoon, in refusing- ad- 
mittance to the deputation, under the circumstances of 
insolence and contumely which I have described, and in 
withholding all amends for his conduct, was rightly viewed 
by the Commodore as a rejection of the demand he had 
been sent to make. He at once established the blockade 
which had been enjoined as the consequence of such re- 
jection. 

No blame could have attached to the Government of 
India, if it had sought no further for the reconciliation of 
these differences, but had proceeded to exert its power 
for the enforcement of its rights. But the desire of the 
Government of India for an amicable adjustment of 
existing differences was genuine ; it sought no conquest 
or pretext for war. 

The terms of the letter from the Governor of Eangoon, 
in respect of the conduct of the officers, would have 
justified the Government in treating it with contemp- 
tuous silence. The rejection of our demand for repara- 
tion would have justified an enhancement of the demand. 



230 



APPENDIX. 



But in its desire for the maintenance of peace, the Go- 
vernment of India did not reject the letter of the Governor, 
or enhance its demands for reparation. It raised no new 
difficulties, and once again renewed its exertions for the 
reconciliation. 

It demanded only an expression of the Governor's 
regret for the treatment to which the officers had heen 
exposed, and the payment of the original compensation, 
and an honourable reception for the agent whom the treaty 
of 1826 entitled us to depute. 

The most just and moderate terms have been, one and 
all, evaded ; and thus the Government of India is thrown 
back upon the alternative, which it formally announced 
to the Governor, would be the result of his failing to 
acquiesce in our demands, namely, the exaction of repa- 
ration by our own power. 

If it be objected, that the main cause of the present 
rupture appears to be but a question of form; that a 
great Government may well afford to treat such petty 
slights with indifference, and that it would be wise for 
the Government of India to pass by unnoticed as well the 
offence itself, as the present refusal of apology for it, 
rather than to be drawn by it into all the evils of a war 
with Burmah, I desire to record my fixed conviction that 
the Government of India will commit an error, perilous 
to its own security, and at variance with real humanity, 
if, acting on this view, it shall yield to the pretensions of 
the Burmese, and shall now patch up a hollow and un- 
substantial peace. 

Among all the nations of the East, none is more arro- 
gant in its pretensions of superiority, and none more per- 



APPENDIX. 



231 



tinacious in its assertion of them, than the people of 
Burmah. With them, forms are essential substance, and 
the method of communication and the style of address 
are not words but acts. 

The conduct of the Governor of Rangoon towards the 
British officers, on the 6th January, would have been felt 
as ignominious by the lowest subordinate at his Durbar, 
if he had himself been subjected to it. The ignominy in- 
flicted on these officers, if it be not resented, will be, and 
must be, regarded as the humiliation of the power they 
serve. The insult has been persisted in to the last. The 
form of address in the letters of the Burmese officers 
has been that employed towards other inferiors ; and in 
the conveyance of their official communications, a studied 
disrespect, the most elaborate insolence, have been ex- 
hibited. 

"Were all this to be passed over, and friendly relations 
renewed, the ground thus gained by the Burmese would 
be fully taken advantage of. The oppressions and ex- 
actions to which British subjects at Rangoon have been 
exposed would be redoubled; the impracticable dis- 
courtesies which have been the steady policy of the 
Government of Ava since the conclusion of the treaty 
of 1826, and which have driven away one British envoy 
after another from Ava, and subsequently from Rangoon 
(till for many years past there has been no representative 
of this Government in Burmah at all), would be habitually 
practised towards the agent who may be placed at Ran- 
goon; and, within a very brief period of time, the Govern- 
ment of India would be reduced to the same alternatives 
which it has now before it, of either abandoning its sub- 



232 



APPENDIX. 



jects, and acknowledging- its inability to protect them, or 
of engaging in a war ; on which it would enter with the 
disadvantage of having, by its previous concessions, given 
spirit to the exertions of the enemy, and strengthened 
their already overweening confidence m their means of 
successful resistance. 

The British power in India cannot safely afford to 
exhibit even a temporary appearance of inferiority. 
Whilst I should be reluctant to believe that our empire 
in India has no stay but the sword alone, it is vain to 
doubt that our hold must mainly rest upon the might 
of the conqueror, and must be maintained by that 
power. The Government of India cannot, consistently 
with its own safety, appear for one day in an attitude 
of inferiority; or hope to maintain peace and submis- 
sion among the numberless princes and people em- 
braced within the vast circuit of the empire, if, for 
one day, it gave countenance to a doubt of the absolute 
superiority of its arms, and of its continued resolution to 
assert it. 

The recital I have given in the preceding paragraphs 
of the course of recent events, will show that the original 
demand of the Government of India for redress was just 
and necessary ; and that it was sought in a manner re- 
spectful to an independent nation. It will show, that a 
gross insult having been put upon this Government in the 
persons of its officers, the Government has not been eager 
to take offence or perverse in refusing amends. It has 
shown itself sincerely desirous to open a way to reconcilia- 
tion; it has practised the utmost moderation and for- 
bearance. Notwithstanding intervening events, it has 



APPENDIX. 



233 



not enhanced its original demand, and has offered the 
•restoration of friendly relations on mild and most reason- 
able terms. If the rejection of those terms shall now 
lead to war between the states, the Government of India 
must be absolved in the sight of those for whom it rules, 
from the responsibility of hostilities, which it cannot de- 
cline without submitting* to a discredit of its power that 
would place in jeopardy the stability of its authority 
throughout the East. 

The necessity for exacting reparation from Burmah by 
force of arms having been established, it has been neces- 
sary to consider the mode of operation. 

I do not by any means intend to intimate that hosti- 
lities should be entered upon even though the demands we 
have made should be previously conceded by the King or 
his officers. 

If, on the arrival of the force off Rangoon, the required 
apology shall be actually made, it may be accepted ; but 
the former reparation demanded is not now sufficient. 
The expenses of the war, and the probable claims for com- 
pensation, must be provided for. 

If, therefore, overtures of peace should be made before 
the war shall actually commence, it is my opinion that we 
must now require : — 

1. The apology previously demanded. 

2. The payment of 9,900 rupees, formerly demanded 
for Captain Sheppard and Captain Lewis. 

3. The honourable reception of the agent at Rangoon. 

4. In consideration of the expenses of the expedi- 
tion, and of compensation for property, ten lakhs of 
rupees. 



234 



APPENDIX. 



If these demands are complied with, and paid at once, 
the force should be at once withdrawn. If they are 
agreed to, but the larger sum is not producible, the posses- 
sion of Rangoon and Martaban, until the payment of the 
specified sum, should be insisted upon. 

If these demands shall be rejected, or if the possession 
of Rangoon and Martaban, until they are fulfilled, shall 
be refused, operations of war should commence. 

The course to be pursued by the Government of India, 
in the event of the Burmese policy rendering it necessary 
to attack and occupy Rangoon and Martaban, will be con- 
sidered, and determined upon before the expedition shall 
be despatched. 

Dalhousie. 



APPENDIX. 



235 



APPENDIX II. 

While the Marquis Dalhousie was making arrangements 
at Calcutta for the expedition from Bengal, the Governors 
of the minor Presidencies were equally active in carrying 
out their several shares of the enterprise. The following 
account of Lord Falkland's movements is derived from 
the Bombay Times: — 

The Eight Honourable the Governor, accompanied 
by Commodore Lushington and the Staff of the Indian 
Navy, proceeded yesterday forenoon to inspect the 
splendid Steam Flotilla which has been fully equipped 
within the last week for service in the Burman waters. 
His Lordship visited the steam-frigates Feroze and 
Sesostris in succession, and expressed himself highly 
gratified with the zeal and activity which had been 
manifested by the officers and crews of all the vessels 
selected to form the Bombay portion of the expedition 
against Burmah. His Lordship was received with a 
salute of nineteen guns from the Hastings, Commodore's 
flag ship, and the yards of all the Company's vessels 
in harbour were manned. The inspection of the vessels 
visited by Lord Falkland occupied about an hour, and 
his Lordship landed shortly after noon under the salute 



236 



APPENDIX. 



due to his rank. Captain H. B. Lynch, the senior 
officer, having* received his final instructions, made the 
signal to weigh and put to sea between two and three 
o'clock p.m., when the following vessels started almost 
together for Madras: — Steam-frigates Feroze, Captain 
Lynch; Moozuffer, Commander H. Hewitt; Sesostris, 
Commander C. D. Campbell; and steam-packet Be- 
renice, Lieutenant A. Nesbit. They will there take 
up H. M.'s 51st Foot, three companies of Artillery, and 
two regiments of Native Infantry, and proceed with 
them to Rangoon, where the squadron will co-operate 
with that already there. 

Commodore Lushington has, we observe, issued a 
well-timed General Order expressing his thanks to all 
the different branches of the Indian naval department 
under his command for their zealous and active assistance, 
and congratulating the captains, officers, and crews of 
the vessels fitted for the above service, on the highly 
creditable and expeditious manner in which they have 
been prepared for sea. — Bombay Times, Feb. 25, 1852. 

LIST OF OFFICERS ATTACHED TO THE SQUADRON 
DESPATCHED TO RANGOON. 

On the Feroze. 
Captain H. B. Lynch, I. N. ; Lieutenants Hellard, 
Halt, and Mitchison (latter gunnery officer); Surgeon 
Costelloe; Assistant- Surgeon Wilson; Purser Beyts; 
Acting -Masters Pryce and Connor; Messrs. Monk, 
Davies, and Clay, Midshipmen; and Messrs. Cole and 
Pierce, Clerks. 



APPENDIX. 



237 



Armament. — Seven 8-inch (erroneously called 6 pr.) 
guns ; and a 12 pr. howitzer field piece. 

Moozuffer. 

Commander H. Hewett, I. N.j Lieutenants Robinson, 
Campbell, and Stevens; Surgeon ; Assistant-Sur- 
geon Welsh ; Acting -Master Freeman ; Pro. Mate 
Brazier; Clerk in Charge, Litchfield; Messrs. Templer, 
Harris, Dowell, and Dawkins, Midshipmen. 

Armament. — Five 8-inch g'uns; two heavy 32 prs. ; 
and boats' guns, &c. 

Sesostris. 

Commander C. D. Campbell, I. N,; Lieutenants 
Lewis, Davis, and Windus; Surgeon Wright; Assistant- 
Surgeon Crawford, Purser Gibbon ; Pro. Mate Lamb ; 
Messrs. Dawson, Turner, Yelf, and Capel, Midshipmen. 

Armament. — Two 8-inch guns ; two 32 pr. mediums ; 
and three boats' guns. 

Berenice. 

Lieutenant A. Nesbitt, I. N., Commander ; Assistant- 
Surgeon Thomson ; Messrs. Atkins, Cairncros, and Nun- 
nerly, Acting Masters, and Mr. Ford, Clerk in Charge. 

Armament. — Two 32 pr. mediums. 



238 



APPENDIX. 



APPENDIX III. 

The subjoined General Order comprehends all the 
arrangements made by the Madras Government : — 

Madras, March 25, 1852. 
No. 23 — Under instructions from the Right Honour- 
able the Governor in Council, His Excellency the Com- 
mander-in-Chief directs the formation of the Madras 
Brigade for the Expedition to Burmah, to be composed 
of the following Corps, which will be embarked without 
delay. 

Brigadier W. H. Elliott, K.H., Commanding. 
Brevet-Major H. Griffith, 11th Eegiment Native In- 
fantry, Major of Brigade. 

ARTILLERY. 

Three Companies. — Lieutenant- Colonel H. S. Eoord, 
Commanding. 

Brevet-Captain J. D. Scott, Major of Brigade. 

SAPPERS AND MINERS. 

Two Companies. — Brevet-Captain J. W. Rundall, 
Field Engineers, and Commanding (already embarked) 
Sappers and Miners. 



APPENDIX. 



239 



INFANTRY. 

H. M.'s 51st King's Own Light Infantry; 5th Re- 
giment N. I. (to be embarked from Vizagapatam) ; 9th 
Regiment N. I. ; 35th Regiment N. I. 

The Brigade will proceed to the mouth of the Rangoon 
River, and be placed under the orders of Lieutenant- 
General Godwin, C.B., appointed to the command of the 
combined Force. 

The following Officers, having been placed at the 
Commander-in-Chief's disposal, they will immediately 
report themselves to Captain J. W. Rimdall, commanding 
the Sappers and Miners, and proceed under him to join 
the two companies of the Corps now on the passage 
to Moulmein, but ordered to join the Expeditionary 
Force proceeding to Burmah : — 

2nd Lieutenant G. Dennison. 
2nd Lieutenant E. R. Blagrave. 

2nd Lieutenant J. 0. Mayne, and Conductor T. C. 
Almond, of the Sappers and Miners, will also imme- 
diately place themselves under the orders of Captain 
Rundall, and proceed to join the above two companies 
of Corps. 

The following removal is ordered in the Artillery : — 
Brevet-Major A. F. Oakes from Horse Brigade to 4th 
Battalion. — Fort St. George Gazette. 



240 



APPENDIX. 



APPENDIX IV. 

Burmah, or, as it is sometimes called, the kingdom of 
Ava, occupies nearly a third of the peninsula whose 
western shore borders the Bay of Bengal to the east, 
stretching- to the Straits of Malacca to the south, and 
facing the shores of China on the west. It occupies 
a space of about 184,000 square miles, extending from 
the fourteenth to the twenty-eighth parallel. The river 
Irrawaddy, which is wholly within the empire, is sup- 
posed to be nearly a thousand miles in length. With the 
empire in general we need not at present concern our- 
selves; it is on the delta and shores of the Irrawaddy 
that our attention is pre-eminently concentrated. This 
noble stream discharges itself by fourteen different 
mouths into the Bay of Bengal, lat. 18 deg. — just 
south of Cape Negrais. The delta is supposed to cover 
an area of about 10,000 square miles, or considerably 
more than that of the Nile — its three sides are about 
135, 145, and 113 miles in length respectively. So 
far as the tide reaches, the delta of the Irrawaddy is 
thickly covered with jungle and small-sized trees; after 
this, vast tracks of lof'tv grass, interspersed at intervals 
with tall-sized trees, make their appearance. Rangoon 
is the marine capital of the empire.* From Rangoon 
to Ava the distance by the river is close on 500 miles, 

* On the Paulang or Rangoon river, eastern channel of the 
Irrawaddy. 



APPENDIX. 



241 



and might be traversed against the current by the 
Nemesis or Phlegethon in four days. The population 
is estimated at 25,000. Ameerapoora is only accessible 
by vessels of inconsiderable size; and above this, the 
river rapidly diminishes in size and depth. Prome, 
in lat. 18'50 degrees, contains a population of about 
10,000 inhabitants; it is said to have been the earliest 
of the seats of the Government of the empire. Com- 
pared even to our second-rate Indian cities, those of 
Burmah are in point of magnitude inconsiderable, and in 
architecture contemptible in the extreme. In lat. 20 f 30 % 
degrees to the south of the banks of the Irrawaddy, are 
the famous petroleum wells of Burmah ; they are about 
three hundred in number, and cover an area of sixteen 
square miles of ground. The quantity of mineral oil 
obtained from them is enormous : when drawn it is thin 
and watery, but speedily thickens on exposure, and 
affords the profitable source of lamp-light to all the 
country round. From this all along to Ava, numberless 
fossils of great beauty, both wood and animal remains, 
similar to those of Perim, prevail; and should accident 
throw our warriors in the way of enriching our museums, 
we trust the opportunity presented will not be lost sight 
of; specimens sufficient to replace the weight of a single 
discharge of shot, would fill a cabinet. In the delta the 
monsoon sets in early in May, and for three months rain 
pours in torrents — the remainder of the season is almost 
rainless. The heat of April is oppressive, so the climate 
there is not unlike our own — with this difference, that 
they have the wet season a month sooner than we have. — 
Bombay Times, Feb. 25, 1852. 

R 



242 



APPENDIX. 



APPENDIX V. 

The following extract from After Orders, by Brigadier 
F. F. Whinyates, Commandant of the Madras Artillery, 
dated St. Thomas's Mount, 12th May, 1852, was re- 

t ceived at Rangoon early in June : — 

By G. 0. G. dated 11th May, 1852. 

" In nominating a successor (Major Simpson) to Major 
Oakes, as Director of the Artillery Depot, the Right 
Honourable the Governor in Council desires to express 
the deep regret with which he has received the report 
of that officer's death. Major Oakes' whole course of 
service was distinguished by the singular activity and 
unceasing labour with which he devoted himself to 
every subject belonging to his profession, rendering his 
death a loss not only to his immediate regiment, but to 
the service at large. Major Oakes died as he had lived 
in the energetic discharge of his duty." 

The following tribute was published at a later 
period : — 

" The Commandant of Artillery, in lamenting the loss 
to the regiment on the occasion, has specially to deplore 
the death of Major Oakes, an officer so conspicuous for 
his zeal as repeatedly to have elicited the commendation 



APPENDIX. 



243 



of the Honourable Court of Directors, and of the highest 
authorities in India. The Commandant of Artillery feels 
he can best serve his memory by calling to those who are 
now rising* in the service to emulate him in those qua- 
lities, energy, and industry, which in his case have re- 
sulted in much benefit to the service at large, but 
especially to his own regiment." 



244 



APPENDIX. 



APPENDIX VI. 

THE BUKMAH DESPATCHES. 
NOTIFICATION, FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. 

Fort William, April 28, 1852. 
The Governor- General of India in Council having 
failed to obtain redress from the Court of Ava for in- 
juries which had been inflicted on British subjects, in 
gross violation of existing- Treaties, was compelled to 
declare that reparation should be exacted by force of 
Arms. 

To that end an Expedition was immediately prepared 
and despatched to the Coast, in the hope that a blow 
promptly struck against the Burmese Power might possi- 
bly lead to a concession of the just and moderate demands 
advanced by the Government of India, and might thus 
avert the necessity for engaging in extended and costly 
war. 

The Governor- General in Council has had the satis- 
faction of publishing, for general information, Despatches 
which announce the success of the Expedition, in the 
capture of Martaban, in the destruction of the formidable 
defences constructed along the River, and in the assault 
and occupation of the fortifications of Rangoon. 



APPENDIX. 



245 



The Governor-General in Council cannot employ terms 
too strong- in expressing* his unqualified approbation of 
the brilliant service which has thus been performed, and 
his gratitude to those by whose joint exertions it has 
been achieved. 

His admiration is due equally to the perfect cordiality 
and concert with which Navy and Army have acted 
tog-ether, to the gallantry which has been conspicuous 
in the Field, and to the fortitude and patience with 
which all have endured, without a murmur, a fierceness 
of climate, whose deadly influence is unhappily too well 
attested by the number of those who have fallen victims 
to its effects. 

The Governor- General in Council especially desires to 
offer to the Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty's Naval 
Forces in these Seas his warm acknowledgments of the 
ready co-operation, and of the very effective aid which 
His Excellency has afforded to the Government of India 
by the powerful Squadron under his command whose 
operations he has so ably directed, and in whose services 
he has borne so distinguished a part. 

To Lieut.-General Godwin, Commanding the Forces in 
Ava, the Governor-General in Council begs leave to 
tender his most full and cordial thanks for the manner in 
which by his intrepidity, his energy, and ability, he has 
brought the Military Operations of the Force to their 
present successful issue ; and to congratulate him upon 
having thus won fresh and higher honours upon the same 
scene on which he formerly gained so much distinction. 

The Govern or- General in Council has great satisfaction 
in publicly rendering to Commodore Lambert his sincere 



246 



APPENDIX. 



acknowledgments of the promptitude with which he 
gave his assistance to the Government of India, of his 
constant exertions on its behalf during* a trying ser- 
vice, and especially of the prominent share he has now 
borne in the destruction of the River defences, thus ma- 
terially facilitating the movements of the Squadron, and 
the ultimate success of the attack. 

The best thanks of the Governor-General in Council 
are due to Brigadier Elliott, commanding- the Madras 
Brigade, and to Lieutenant-Colonel Reig*nolds, who, after 
having taken a part in every operation of the Troops, 
has assumed the command of the Bengal Brigade, from 
which illness, which the Governor-General in Council 
regrets, has removed Brigadier Warren. 

The Governor-General in Council is happy to record 
his appreciation of the essential service rendered by 
Captain Lynch, the senior officer of the Indian Navy, to 
whose ability, judgment, and discretion, His Excellency 
the Rear-Admiral has borne his testimony on this oc- 
casion. 

And His Lordship in Council at the same time desires 
to mark his sense of the services of Commander Mellersh, 
of Commander Fishbourne, by whose aid the Government 
has largely profited, of Commander Tarleton, Com- 
mander Luard, Lieutenant Rice, R. N., Captain Niblett, 
of H. C. S. Phlegethon, and of Surgeon Mintor, whose 
personal exertions have been severally commended by His 
Excellency. 

The Governor-General in Council has to add his 
marked acknowledgments of the valuable assistance 
afforded during the attack on the land defences of 



APPENDIX. 



247 



Rangoon by Lieutenant Dorville, R. N., and the Naval 
Brigade under his orders. 

The Governor-General in Council has further remarked 
with gratification the distinguished conduct of Captain 
Brooking, of H. C. steamer Proserpine. His Lordship 
in Council wishes to express his warm approbation of 
conduct which has elicited the applause, both of the 
Admiral, and of the General who witnessed it. 

The conspicuous gallantry of Major Fraser, command- 
ing the Engineers, and his indefatigable exertions since 
the expedition was resolved upon, more especially in the 
field, command the highest praise and the best thanks of 
the Supreme Government. 

To Lieutenant-Colonel Foord, Commanding the Artil- 
lery; to Major Turton and Major Reid, of the Bengal 
Artillery; to Major Montgomerie, of the Madras Artil- 
lery ; to Lieutenant-Colonel Coote, of Her Majesty's 
18th, who has been severely wounded; to Lieutenant- 
Colonel Thomson of the 40th Native Infantry ; to Lieut.- 
Colonel Johnson, of 26th Madras Native Infantry; and 
to Major Lockhart, of Her Majesty's 80th Regiment ; to 
Captain May hew, Deputy Adjutant General, whose value 
is specially remarked ; to Captain Allan, Deputy Quarter 
Master General ; to Captain Call and Captain Smith, 
Brigade Majors; to Lieutenant Robertson, Deputy Com- 
missary of Ordnance ; to Captain Gillespie, who led the 
assault at Martaban, and Captain Campbell, of Her 
Majesty's 18th ; to Captain Randall, Commanding Madras 
Sappers and Miners; to Captain Chads and Lieutenant 
Lambert, Aides-de-Camp to the Lieutenant- General, the 
services of all of whom have been noticed with approba- 



248 



APPENDIX. 



tion by General Godwin, the Governor- General in Council 
begs to offer bis earnest thanks. 

The Governor-General in Council has to offer his 
thanks to Lieutenant-Colonel Bogle, Commissioner of 
the Tenasserim Provinces, for the valuable aid he ren- 
dered to General Godwin in connection with the attack 
upon Martaban ; and his Lordship in Council particularly 
desires to record his approbation of the energetic and 
successful exertions of the Commissioner in giving effect 
to the preparations of the Government for ensuring as 
far as possible the health and comfort of the troops to be 
employed upon the expedition. 

Captain Latter, who has discharged his functions 
hitherto to the entire satisfaction of the Government, has 
added to his claims by the duty which he well performed 
in the assault on the Pagoda at Rangoon. 

Not only to the Officers he has thus specially named, 
but to all the Officers, to the Non-Commissioned Officers, 
of whatever designation, and to the Soldiers and Sailors 
of the force, the Governor- General in Council desires to 
convey his true and hearty thanks for the alacrity, the 
endurance, the bravery and good conduct they have dis- 
played during the several operations in which they have 
been engaged. 

The Governor-General in Council deeply laments to 
know that our success has not been achieved without the 
sacrifice of valued lives. 

He deplores the loss of Major Oakes, of the Madras 
Artillery ; of Brigade Major Griffiths ; of Lieutenant 
Armstrong, of Her Majesty's 51st Regiment ; of Lieut. 
Donaldson, of Bengal Engineers; of Lieutenant Doran, 



APPENDIX. 



249 



of Her Majesty's 18th, who nobly perished in the front 
of the assault, and of the Rev. Mr. Baker, Chaplain of 
Her Majesty's Ship Fox, and other brave men who died 
in the performance of their several duties in the service of 
their country. 

It shall be the first care of the Most Noble the Go- 
vernor-General in Council, to bring the conduct and 
services of the Naval and Military forces on the Coast 
of Burmah, under the most favourable notice of Her 
Majesty's Government and of the Honourable East India 
Company. 

By order of the Most Noble the Governor-General in 
Council, 

C. Allen, 
Officiating Sec. to the Govt, of India. 



SUPPLEMENTARY NARRATIVE OF THE AT- 
TACK ON THE WHITE HOUSE STOCKADE. 

To Lieutenant-General H. Godwin, C.B., 
Commanding Burmah Field-Force. 

Eangoon. 

Sir, — I have the honour, with your kind sanction, to 
forward the following detailed narrative of the operations 
of a wing of the regiment now under my command, in 
the attack on the White House Stockake, on the morning 
of the 12th April, 1852. 

In explanation, it is necessary for me to state, that 
Lieutenant- Colonel St. Maur commanded H. M.'s 51st on 



250 



APPENDIX. 



the morning of the 12th, and, of course, accompanied the 
right wing. He was seriously indisposed from the effects of 
the sun. Upon the wing rejoining the regiment, I assumed 
the command on the 13th, and marched the regiment into 
the Great Pagoda on the 14th ; but the command was not 
formally given over to me until the 4th instant, when 
Lieutenant-Colonel St. Maur proceeded on leave to 
Madras. This, I trust, will account for my report not 
having been sent to you, as soon as the operations had 
been brought to a conclusion. 

1. On the morning of the 12th, the right wing of 
H. M.'s 51st, under the command of Lieu tenant- Colonel 
St. Maur, was directed to advance, with orders to support 
the guns, to cover the flanks, and eventually to storm the 
stockade. 

2. After passing the guns, No. 1. Company, under the 
command of Lieutenant Singleton, was ordered to cover 
the front of the reserve ; but was immediately reinforced, 
by your orders, by No. 2 Company, under Captain Man- 
ners. I believe you were an eye-witness of the steady 
manner in which these companies skirmished. A sharp 
fire was opened upon these skirmishers, and steadily 
returned by them. 

3. These skirmishers had not advanced far, when the 
two left sub-divisions were ordered to clear the jungle, 
on the left of the covered pathway, leading to the front 
face of the stockade. The two right sub-divisions moved 
over some rising ground leading to the left face of the 
stockade, and encountered a great number of the enemy's 
skirmishers, who, according to Captain Manners' report, 
they drove before them in the most gallant manner. It 



APPENDIX. 



251 



was here that Captain Manners was requested by an 
officer of Engineers to render him assistance in getting* 
the scaling-ladders carried to the front, which was imme- 
diately complied with by this officer ; but on emerging 
from the wood, and when within one hundred yards of 
the stockade, Captain Manners saw several of the 51st 
soldiers entering by the steps and over the parapet, upon 
which he left the ladders, and entered himself by the 
front. 

4. I should be much wanting in my dutv were I not 
here to call to your notice the skilful conduct of Lieuten- 
ant Pilmer, who commanded the left sub-division of No. 
1 Company. This officer observed that the reserve was 
suffering from the enemy's fire in front; he therefore 
made a dash with his sub-division to take the enemy in 
rear, which was no sooner observed by the enemy than 
they evacuated the front face, and sallied out by the 
rear in great numbers, apparently with the intention of 
making for the stockade at some distance, in the rear of 
the White House. Thus was this officer's object partially 
effected ; and it would have been completed, by cutting 
off the whole party, had he not been prevented by 
Captain Latter, who ordered the men not to follow 
farther. 

5. The reserve, consisting of No. 3 Company, under 
Captain Darroch, No. 5 under Captain Blundell, and No. 
6 under the command of Lieutenant Madden, was 
ordered to halt in some open cover ; but only for a few 
seconds. It was here, when ordered to advance to storm 
the stockade, that Captain Blundell, when in the act of 
g allantly leading on his men, was shot in the abdomen by 



252 



APPENDIX. 



a musket ball — the wound proving- fatal in a few days; 
his loss is deeply regretted by officers and men ; his cheer- 
fulness and thoughtfulness for the sufferings of others 
were remarkable, whilst being- caried to the rear. The 
non-commissioned and soldiers of No. 5 Company will 
long- regret the loss of their brave commander. Captain 
Darroch, calling- upon his men to follow him, moved 
rapidly up to the stockade, where he found some ladders 
being reared by the soldiers of the 51st, who placed them, 
and went up the mafterwards. Captain Darroch, calling 
out, " On, men, the place is our own ! " pushed forward 
with the greatest alacrity, and in a few moments he and his 
men were in the stockade. The ladders alluded to were 
placed against the parapet by order of Lieutenant Mad- 
den, commanding No. 6 Company, by which the men 
entered the stockade; Lieutenant Madden leading the 
way. 

Before concluding my report, which has been drawn 
up from those sent in to me by the officers commanding 
the different companies, I beg to bring to your notice the 
gallant conduct of Major Hare, of the regiment under 
my command, who mounted the first ladder, following 
Captain Rundall, of the Madras Engineers, who was pre- 
ceded by Major Fraser, of the Bengal Engineers. It 
affords me pleasure to inform you that the latter officer 
reported to me, after our operations had terminated, that 
a European soldier was the first man in the stockade, who, 
I conclude, must have been a soldier of the 51st, as no 
other European regiment was engaged in the attack. I 
believe the soldier to have been Private Johnson, of 
Captain BlundelPs Company. 



APPENDIX. 



253 



On the 14th, after the storm in g-party had advanced to 
the attack of the Great Pagoda, you ordered me to throw 
out two companies of the 51st. One of these companies, 
under the command of Lieutenant Singleton, skirmished 
through the jungle up to the eastern face of the stockade ; 
but observing a great number of the enemy escaping 
from the Upper Pagoda, he made for the south-east 
angle. He entered, following closely upon the storming- 
party. 

The other company, under the command of Captain 
Manners, acted under your personal orders, and entered 
the Great Pagoda with you at the east entrance. 

I beg' to annex a return of the killed and wounded on 
this occasion* : — 

1 Captain, mortally wounded (Captain Blundell). 

1 Sergeant, slightly „ 

2 Corporals 

II Privates, severely „ 

On the 14th, 1 Private, killed; 1, mortally wounded ; 
and 1 Sergeant slightly. 

(True copy.) 

(Signed) A. C. Errington, Major, 

51st L. I., Commanding. 

Eangoon, May 12, 1852. 

• The storming of the White House Stockade. 



254 



APPENDIX. 



Extract from an Officer's Diary at Rangoon. 

"The General is very popular, being" always kind in 
his deportment to all who address him. His disregard 
of his own personal safety, and of the bullets of the 
enemy, on the 12th and 14th of April, the cool manner he 
rode about, when many about him were bobbing their 
heads, stamp him as a brave man. On one occasion, when 
exposed to the enemy's fire, I heard him soundly rate, 
though in a kind way, some European soldiers for bobbing 
their heads. The cocked hat he wore rendered his vicinity 
anything but safe. Brigadier Elliott quite equalled the 
General in an utter disregard of bullets. No man in the 
field, on the 12th and 14th, was more exposed, or behaved 
with more coolness, than did the two old soldiers." 



APPENDIX. 



255 



APPENDIX VII. 

THE CAMPAIGN OF 1824-25. 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL GODWIN AT MARTABAN 
AND 

The passage from Rangoon on the Irrawaddy to Marta- 
ban on the Salween appears insignificant on the map. 
But the strong currents of the intermediate portion of 
the coast, baffled day after day the fleet of Lieutenant- 
Colonel Godwin. He did not arrive near the romantic 
lake and heights of Martaban before the 29th September. 
On the 30th the Burmans were driven from its town, 
fortified pagodas, and stockaded lines by a scientific 
attack. The Lieutenant - Colonel detached Captain 
O'Reilly of the 41st against Ye-Mijo. This also was 
rapidly captured. The occupation of Martaban brought 
the British upon the frontier line of the Siamese. But 
no efforts of either Burmah or British agents, neither 
arguments, promises, nor threats, could ever divert that 
Government from their cautious and reserved system of 
policy. They persevered in an armed neutrality to the end 
of the protracted contest, carefully watching the trepida- 
tions of the balance of success. They could never be 



256 



APPENDIX. 



drawn into any overt act of hostility against the Bur- 
mans ; but to keep well with their enemies, they filled 
the streets of Rangoon with a tinsel embassage, so soon 
as they heard of the advance of the British ; and during 
the third campaign the political agents at Martaban 
were amused from time to time with choice specimens of 
enigmatical eloquence by a General-in-Chief with the 
sonorous name of Roung-roung. 

THE HEALTH OF THE TROOPS AT RANGOON.* 

Meanwhile the privations and sufferings of the troops 
at Rangoon were painfully aggravated. The continued 
use of salt provisions had added to the disease which 
preyed on them before, scurvy — a frightful scourge any- 
where, but on the humid delta of an huge river, a foe 
to human health, which seemed to defy extirpation. The 
heavy rains, which had intermitted after the second week 
of October, were renewed in November with their former 
violence. Ships despatched from Rangoon in July, could 
not bring back any effectual succours in less than four 
months. Private adventurers had brought sheep and 
poultry to this mart of starvation. But they were few in 
number, and were sold at rates incredibly exorbitant. 
They furnished only an ephemeral repast for the tables of 
a few of the half - famished officers. Pine - apples 
abounded in the forests. Limes and citrons were to be 
found in rude orchards. The juice of these fruits might 
have been rendered sanative to a few, if used as anti- 
scorbutics only. But the heedless voracity with which 
* Towards the concusion of Nov. 1824. 



APPENDIX. 



257 



such unripe rarities were swallowed by hungry soldiers 
proved fatal to hundreds of dysenteric sufferers. Bread 
had been, from the month of August, supplied in sufficient 
quantities for the consumption of hospitals. But the 
rations of the soldier consisted of rice, a crude indigestible 
viand for the stomach of a native of Britain, salted beef 
and pork, which vitiated the animal juices, and biscuit 
seldom fresh, and commonly swarming with animalcules, 
or mouldy from long detention under hatches, or in damp 
magazines. The supply of medicines was not abundant, 
nor assorted with a view to peculiar ailments, which could 
not have been anticipated. Of most of the articles in- 
cluded under the head of medical comforts, there was yet 
a greater scarcity. It may be surmised that where there 
were no cattle, milk was not procurable; yet a milk 
diet would have saved many valuable lives. Dropsical 
symptoms manifested themselves extensively. Dyspepsia, 
and acute hepatitis were yet more common. Diarrhoea 
and dysentery committed lamentable ravages. For dys- 
peptic, hepatic, dysenteric, and scorbutic patients, there 
were neither milk, vegetables, farinaceous food, nor nutri- 
tive broths. These deficiencies baffled the skill, though 
they could not extinguish the zeal of the medical officers. 
The plan of mooring transports at the mouth of the river, 
on board of which convalescents might inhale the sea- 
breezes, did not produce very beneficial results. The 
most successful of the sanitary measures was the esta- 
blishment of a depot at Mergui. 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL GODWIN AT TANTABAIN. 

It was known to the British that Bundoola had con- 

s 



258 



APPENDIX. 



centra ted a force, swelled by this time to a considerable 
amount, at Donabyoo. The Kee Woonghee, or first 
Woonghee of the Empire, commanded several detach- 
ments intended to cover the left bank of the Irrawaddy. 
One of these had taken post at Tantabain. It was the 
plan of Sir Archibald Campbell to assume two principal 
lines of advance, one up the stream of the Rangoon river, 
Paulang branch, and great eastern branch of the Irra- 
waddy, the other parallel to the prolongation of the left 
bank of this same branch; but at some distance from it, 
as far as Sarawah. At that point the two lines would 
become coincident. It seemed necessary as a preliminary 
measure to clear the Laing river. Lieutenant-Colonel 
Godwin was detached against Tantabain. This officer 
found the enemy on the 16th of February, posted two 
thousand strong in a position on the point of a little 
peninsula. Two sides of their work were extended to 
eleven hundred paces each. It was lined with thirty- 
six guns. The Lieutenant-Colonel caused the Satellite 
armed ship, towed by the steam vessel, to enfilade one 
face of the defences. He paralyzed the barbarians by her 
fire, and a shower of rockets launched from the deck of 
the Diana, by Captain Graham's troop. The Burmans 
were amazed at the velocity, the dazzling light, the rapid 
succession, the fatal aim, and ominous hissing of this new 
weapon. The Grenadiers of the 41st, transported by the 
boats to a point sheltered from fire, rushed upon the 
enemy in the moment of consternation. The work was 
carried. The barbarians left behind thirty-four out of 
thirty-six guns. — Havelock. 



APPENDIX. 



259 



MAJOR SALE AT BASSEIN. 

Sir Archibald Campbell had sent some troops to 
manoeuvre on the line of the great western branch of the 
Irrawaddy. Major Sale's transports were conveyed by his 
Majesty's frigate Lame, and the H. C.'s cruiser Mercury. 
The passage of his fleet round the circumference of the 
coast was tedious. It reached Pagoda Point in great 
Negrais on the 24th of February Major Wahab had 
arrived here in May 1824, when all might have been 
attempted, which was now worth attempting. The enemy 
had constructed some works on both the greater and the 
lesser island. Their defenders were put to night by the 
fire of the ships of war. Whilst the expedition was 
making its way with little opposition between the pictu- 
resque banks of the magnificent stream, the Burmese set 
fire to Bassein and retreated towards Lamina. The 
fleet anchored off the smoking ruins on the 3rd March. 
Major Sale having established his troops in the area of 
the grand Pagoda endeavoured by assurances, and the 
distribution of proclamations, to restore confidence in the 
minds of the alarmed inhabitants. — Ibid. 



PROME. 

The fate of the campaign was decided, as it had been 
easy to foresee, under the walls of Donabyoo. Sir 
Archibald Campbell, regaining his former line of route, 
by recrossing the river at Sarawah, prosecuted an un- 
opposed advance. He entered Prome on the 25th April, 
1825. General Cotton's division, in rejoining him, en- 



260 



APPENDIX. 



countered no obstacles but the rocks, shallows, and rapids 
of the Irrawaddy. 

But the army had lost half a month. Prome was its 
place of arms during- the monsoon. A reconnoissance was 
pushed to Mecaday fifty miles beyond it. Prome may 
be considered the third town in the Empire. The com- 
mercial advantages of Rangoon seem to entitle it to rank 
second. Prome stands on a somewhat lofty margin of 
the river. A timber stockade encloses three or four 
narrow streets of huts, the wooden houses of the local 
Government, those of the priesthood and numerous 
pagodas. 

Considerable intervening* spaces are partially planted 
with trees. From the platforms of the work the inhabit- 
ants look forth across a stream of a thousand yards at the 
rocky heights which guard the right bank. These are 
a portion of the chain of wooded hills, which extend 
in unbroken links from a point on the right bank forty 
miles below Prome to another 160 above it. 

This line of 200 miles is beautiful throughout. The 
eye of the voyager on the Irrawaddy is perpetually 
feasted with the sight of hanging woods, which in this 
climate are never entirely deprived of their foliage. In 
the more abrupt bends of the river the rocks, which 
occasionally decorate the left bank also, seem to unite 
themselves amphitheatrically with those of the right. 

The spectator may fancy himself on a lake in a moun- 
tainous region. This, and sudden glimpses of pagodas 
perched adventurously on the summits of crags, like the 
castles of the Rhine, are the principal features of the 
picturesque in Ava. The site of Prome is salubrious 



APPENDIX. 



261 



as well as beautiful. The town is a healthy place of 
residence even in the season of rain. The air of the 
breezy hills around it is yet more delicious. 

A line of heights lower than those of the right bank 
extends along* the left from Shive-doungmyo, ten miles 
below Prome. A few hundred yards southward of the 
latter, these hills run off abruptly at a right angle shap- 
ing their course into the interior. On the summits of the 
mounds and hillocks of this range the troops were 
cantoned. Roomy huts of mats, timber, and thatch, 
were quickly thrown up for them. The officers built 
themselves small bungalows of the same materials. 
Freed from care, from wants, and sickness, they here 
spent then- days nearly as agreeably as in the remoter 
stations of the Presidencies. Another monsoon was 
before the army • but how far different from the last ! 
The defeat of Bundoola at Kokaing had restored its 
population to Rangoon. His death.* and the dispersion 
of his bands at Donabyoo, relieved the plains and villages 
of Pegu from the second reign of terror. The British 
army had acted on its march in the spirit of the bene- 
volent proclamation of its leader. It had conciliated 
Pegu. From Rao goon to Yandaboo the conduct of the 
force was exemplary. Even the followers of the camp, 
by far the most intractable portion of an armament in 
India, were never guilty of serious indiscipline. This 
opinion does not rest solely on British testimony. He 
wko should dispute its correctness, would find many 
thousands of Peguers to contradict him. The presence 

* April 1, 1852. Supposed to have been caused by a Congreve 
rocket. 



262 



APPENDIX. 



of General Sir A. Campbell's divisions was not only 
never felt as a calamity in Pegu, but regarded as a 
protection against the severity of the Burmans. In 
April, 18*26, their departure was bewailed in terms of 
clamorous regret, which no prudential arguments could 
restrain. The simple people of these provinces arrived at 
once at the secret of British superiority without the aid 
of metaphysics, or political economy. They said, "The 
Inglee Rajahs pay for everything, and do not cut off our 
heads." This surprised and delighted them. — HacelocKs 
Campaigns in Ava. 

MALOWN. 

Sir A. Campbell's Despatch reporting the result of the 
attack on the Burmese entrenchments at Malown on 
the 19th January 1826, will have peculiar interest at 
the present moment ; we* therefore annex it : — 

To George Swinton, Esq., Secretary to Government, 
Secret and Political Department, &c. &c. &c. 

Sir, — My despatch of the 31st ultimo, brought the 
operations of the army under my command down to that 
date, and expressed my sanguine expectations that it 
would prove the last communication which I should 
have to address to you, relative to the war in this 
country. 

These hopes were unfortunately frustrated by the 
policy of a Court, apparently destitute of every principle 
of honour and good faith. 

The signature of a treaty of peace by the British and 
* Madras United Service Gazette, March 9, 1852. 



APPENDIX. 



283 



Burman Commissioners, on the 3rd instant, and the 
pledge, on the part of the latter, that the same would 
be ratified by the King 1 of Ava within fifteen days from 
that date, and some specific articles, as therein stated, 
carried into effect within the same period, has already 
been brought to the knowledge of the Rio-ht Honour- 
able the Governor-General in Council, by the proceeding's 
of the British Commissioners, recorded in their des- 
patches, under date the 3rd instant. All occurrences 
of a purely political nature since then, will now in like 
manner be furnished by the same authority. I shall 
therefore proceed to the detail of military events resulting 
therefrom. 

On the 18th, the day appointed for the return of the 
ratified treaty, &c , the Commissioners finding-, that in- 
stead of a fulfilment of the King's promise, a further delay 
of six or seven days was solicited, under such equivocal 
circumstances as left no doubt that a total want of faith 
guided their councils, it was definitely declared that their 
request could not be complied with, and a secret article 
proposed to them in which it was stipulated (together 
with the performance of others already agreed to) that 
they should evacuate the fortified and entrenched city 
of Malown, by sun-rise on the morning of the 20th ; 
on their positive rejection of this proposition, they were 
told, that after twelve o'clock that very night (the 18th), 
hostilities would recommence. Deeming it of the utmost 
importance that no time should be lost in punishing 
duplicity of so flagrant a character, I ordered the con- 
struction of batteries and the landing of heavy ordnance 
from the flotilla, to commence immediately after mid' 



264 



APPENDIX. 



night, and every requisite arrangement to he made for 
an early attack upon Malown. His Lordship in Council 
will he enabled to appreciate the zeal and exertion with 
wtiich my orders were carried into effect, under the 
direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Hopkinson, commanding 
the Artillery, and Lieutenant-Colonel Underwood, the Chief 
Engineer (aided by that indefatigable corps, the first 
battalion of Madras Pioneers, under command of Captain 
Crowe), when I state, that by ten o'clock next morning, 
I had eight-and-twenty pieces of ordnance in battery on 
points presenting a front of more than one mile on the 
eastern bank of the Irrawaddy, which corresponded with 
the extent of the enemy's line of defence on the opposite 
shore. I yet cherished hopes that the formidable appear- 
ance of our preparations would have induced them to 
make some further communications in the morning, 
instead of again risking the renewal of hostilities with 
troops, of whose decided superiority they had so re- 
cently received the most convincing' and humiliating 
proofs. In this I was disappointed. At daylight, I 
perceived that the preceding night had been devoted 
by them to preparations equally laborious, and the 
construction of extensive and well-planned works, with a 
view to the resistance on which they had resolved. 

At eleven o'clock, a.m. (the 19th), I ordered our 
batteries and rockets to open their fire on the enemy's 
position ; it was warmly kept up, and with such precision 
of practice, as to reflect the highest credit on this branch 
of the service. 

During this period, the troops intended for the assault 
were embarking in the boats of his Majesty's ships and 



APPENDIX. 



265 



the flotilla, at a point above our encampment at Patanagoh 
under the superintendence and direction of Captain 
Chads of his Majesty's ship Alligator, senior naval 
officer, on whom this charge devolved, in the absence 
of his Excellency, Commodore Sir James Brisbane, in 
consequence of extreme indisposition. 

About one p.m. the desired impression having' been 
produced by the cannonade, and every thing" reported 
ready, I directed the Brigade under Lieutenant-Colonel 
Sale, consisting of his Majesty's 13th and 38th Re- 
giments, to drop down the river and assault the main 
face of the enemy's position, near its south-eastern angle; 
and Brigadier- General Cotton, with the flank companies 
of his Majesty's 47th and 87th Regiments, and his 
Majesty's 89th Regiment, under Lieutenant - Colonel 
Hunter Blair,- his Majesty's 41st Regiment, and the 
18th Madras Native Infantry, under Lieutenant- 
Colonel Godwin; and the 28th Madras Native In- 
fantry, with the flank companies of the 43rd Madras 
Native Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Parlby, to 
cross above Malown, and, after carrying some out- 
works, to attack the northern face of the principal 
work. 

Although the whole of the boats pushed off together 
from the left bank, the strength of the current, and a 
strong breeze from the north, carried Lieutenant-Colonel 
Sale's Brigade to the given point of attack, before the 
other columns (notwithstanding every exertion) could 
possibly reach the opposite shore; Lieutenant-Colonel 
Sale was unfortunately wounded in his boat, but the 
corps of his Brigade having landed, and formed with 



266 



APPENDIX. 



admirable regularity, under the command of Major Frith, 
of his Majesty's 38th Regiment, rushed on to the assault 
with their usual intrepidity, and were in a short time 
complete masters of a work, which although certainly 
not so well chosen in point of position as others we have 
met with, had yet been rendered most formidable by 
labour and art, and, at the same time, such as to afford 
the enemy a presumptive assurance of security in their 
possession of it. This is fully evinced by the circum- 
stances of the Chiefs, with Memiaboo at their head 
(contrary to the Burmese custom in all such cases), 
having remained within their defences till they saw the 
troops crossing to assault. 

When Brigadier General Cotton saw the works were 
carried by the 13th and 38th Regiments, he very judi- 
ciously ordered the Brigade under Lieutenant-Colonel 
Hunter Blair to cut in upon the enemy's line of re- 
treat, which was done accordingly, and with much 
effect. 

Thus was accomplished in the course of a few hours 
from the recommencement of hostilities, forced upon us 
by perfidy and duplicity, a chastisement as exemplary as 
it was merited. Their loss in killed and wounded has 
been severe, and the accompanying returns of captured 
ordnance, stores, arms, and ammunition, will sufficiently 
demonstrate how seriously they have suffered in these 
particulars; a species of disaster, which their Government 
will doubtless more deeply deplore than the sacrifice of 
lives or the shame of defeat. Specie, to the amount of 
about thirty thousand rupees, was found in Memiaboo's 
house, and a very ample magazine of grain, together with 



APPENDIX. 



267 



about seventy horses, have also fallen into our hands. 
It will prove highly gratifying to his Lordship in 
Council to learn, that advantages so important have 
been secured with so small a numerical loss, as is ex- 
hibited by the returns of killed and wounded : amongst 
the wounded I include, with particular regret, the names 
of Lieutenant-Colonel Sale and Major Frith, the latter 
having succeeded to the command of the column on his 
senior officer being disabled, received at its head, in the 
moment of success, a spear wound, which I fear is of a 
serious nature. Major Thornhill, of His Majesty's 13th 
Light Infantry, was the third on whom the accident of 
war brought the perilous distinction of leading these 
troops, and he conducted their movements to the close of 
the affair, in a style worthy of his predecessors in com- 
mand. 

"Where zeal displays itself in every rank, as amongst 
the officers whom I have the happiness to command, 
and all vie with each other in the honourable discharge 
of duty, the task of selecting individual names for the 
notice of his Lordship, becomes difficult and embarrassing, 
and I am compelled to adopt the principle of particular- 
king those alone on whom the heaviest share of exertion 
happened to devolve on this occasion. It fell to the lot 
of the Artillery to occupy this conspicuous station in the 
events of the day ; in behalf, therefore, of Lieutenant- 
Colonel Hopkinson, commanding the whole, and of 
Lieutenant-Colonel Pollock, commanding Bengal Artil- 
lery, and Captain Lumsden, Bengal Horse Artillery, and 
Montgomerie, Madras Artillery, commanding the bat- 
teries, I have to solicit your recommendation to his 



268 



APPENDIX. 



Lordship's favourable attention. The rocket practice, 
under Lieutenant Blake, of the Bengal Horse Artillery, 
was in every way admirable ; of three hundred and four 
rockets which were projected during* the day, five alone 
failed of reaching the spot for which they were destined, 
and uniformly told in the works, or in the ranks, of the 
enemy, with an effect which has clearly established their 
claim to be considered a most powerful and formidable 
weapon of war. 

The conduct of His Majesty's 13th and 38th Regiments, 
during the advance, and their gallantry in the storm, far 
exceeded all that I can write in their praise. I sincerely 
hope that I shall not long be deprived of the services of 
their two brave commanders. 

Brigadier-General Cotton's arrangements for inter- 
cepting the retreat of the enemy, and the movement of 
Lieutenant- Colonel Hunter Blair to effect the same object, 
merit my warmest commendations. 

To Captain Chads, of the Royal Navy, and every 
officer and seaman of His Majesty's ships, and the Hon. 
Company's Flotilla, I am deeply indebted, for the able 
and judicious manner in which the troops were trans- 
ported to points of attack so near to the formidable works 
which they had to assail. I have the honour to enclose 
Captain Chad's report together with his return of killed 
and wounded. 

Upon this short but important service, I derived every 
support from the zeal and ability of my Staff, general 
and personal. 

Lieutenant Wilson, of His Majesty's 13th Light In- 
fantry, Aide-de-Camp to Brigadier-General Cotton, who 



APPENDIX. 



269 



will have the honour of delivering- the despatch, was 
present during- the whole affair, and is well qualified to 
give any further information which may be required by 
his Lordship on the subject. 

(Signed) A. Campbell, Major-General. 

Head-quarters, Camp Patanagoh, 
Jan. 20, 1826. 



270 



APPENDIX. 



APPENDIX VIII. 

THE CAPTUKE OF BASSEIN. 

To Lieutenant-General Godwin, C.B., etc., Com- 
manding Burmah Field-Force. 
Sir, — The operations being- concluded, I have the honour 
now to lay before you a report of the assault and capture 
of the strong stockades, erected by the enemy at Bassein, 
by the troops under my command, on the 19th instant. 

1. The Honourable Company's steamers having* an- 
chored in succession, at about half-past 4 p.m., in front of 
Bassein, a signal was made for the troops to land. This 
was effected in a very short time, and the ground occupied 
was an open space running along* the river in front of the 
stockade. The work was full of armed men, and several 
guns were in position. I formed the troops in line. 

2. The whole force had not landed, when a fire from 
the enemy was opened upon us. This was a signal for 
the troops to advance, which was done in the most gallant 
style. The stockade was surmounted, the chief Pagoda 
gained, and the enemy were driven in every direction. 

Considering* the sharp fire that was opened upon us in 
this gallant attack, our loss in killed and wounded was 
small. 



APPENDIX. 



271 



3. Having formed the troops in the pagoda, companies 
were sent out, by your orders, in different directions, to 
disperse the enemy, 

4. A most important duty still remained to be per- 
formed. The enemy's stronghold, a fortified position to 
the south of the town, was still unmolested. 

5. A company of H. M.'s 51st, under Captain Rice, and 
two of the Madras N. I., under Captain Borthwick, were 
selected to assault this position. I accompanied this de- 
tachment myself, in order to be an eye-witness of what I 
knew would be a most dashing operation. I halted the 
party for a few minutes on the road, as Captain Borth- 
wick had not come up, where it was joined by a few sea- 
men and marines, under Lieutenant Rice, R. N.; by a 
party of Madras Sappers, with ladders, under Lieutenant 
Ford ; and by a sub-division of the 9th N. I., under 
Lieutenant Ansley. As it was getting* late, I decided 
upon not waiting for the remainder of the 9th. 

6. Taking a circuitous route, we came out in rear of 
the stockade, in an open space, which afforded us a distinct 
view of this formidable position. I here detached Lieu- 
tenant Ansley with his party to the right, to attack in 
reverse the north-east side. 

Our further progress was impeded by water and low 
thick jungle, obliging us to take another direction, which 
brought the party out upon a brick road, leading straight 
up to the north-east angle of the work. Upon opening 
the position, and when within fifteen yards of it, a severe 
fire of musketry, guns, and jingals was opened upon us 
by the enemy. I was struck in the groin, which disabled 
me at once ; Lieutenant Rice, R. N., whilst bravely 



272 



APPENDIX. 



leading on his men, was snot through the hand ; Captain 
Rice, H. M.'s 51st L. I., whilst gallantly leading his 
company up to the assault, was shot through the lower 
part of the neck. His place was gallantly taken by his 
subaltern, Lieutenant Carter, who, followed by his men, 
was the first on the parapet. He was struck down by 
a musket-ball, and rolled over the exterior slope ; but still 
insisted upon being carried into the work. Lieutenant 
Ansley, of the 9th M. N. I., and Lieutenant Ford, Madras 
Sappers, mounted the parapet in the most gallant manner ; 
the former receiving a wound through the right hand. 
The enemy now gave way in every direction, followed by 
the victorious troops under the command of Lieutenant 
Ford. 

Thus, in forty minutes from the time the troops landed, 
the whole of the enemy's works were in your possession. 

In conclusion, I beg to bring to your notice the noble 
conduct of the officers, non-commissioned officers and 
soldiers of all arms, who took part in the assault; and the 
cheerfulness and alacrity with which every individual 
appeared anxious to perform his duty. 

I beg to inclose a list of the killed and wounded. 

I have the honour to be, &c. 

(Signed) A. C. Errington, Major 

H. M.'s 51st. 

Commanding H. M.'s 51st Regiment, L. I. 
and Troops engaged. 

On board the Hon. Company's steam frigate Moozufer, 
off Bassein, May 22, 1852. 



APPENDIX. 



273 



Keturn or Killed, Wounded, and Missing, at the Attack and Capture 
of Bassein on the 19th May, 1852. 



Head-quarters, Eangoon, May 24, 1852. 



Personal Staff 
General Staff.. 



H. M.'s 51st Regt 
K. 0. L. I 



9th Regt. M.N.I 
Total 



Killed. 



Officers. 



Wounded. 



Officers. 



Missing. 



European Officers 
Native Officers 



Warrant and Non-Commissioned Officers, Rank and 
Tile, &c 



Lascars, Syce Drivers, Syces, &c. 



Killed. 



Wounded. 



None. 



Grand Total of Killed, Wounded, and Missing, Twenty-five. 



(Signed) 



W. MAYHEW, Captain, 



Assistant Adjutant General of the Burmah Field Force. 

T 



274 



APPENDIX. 

Officees Killed and Wounded. 



No. 
Killed. 


No. 
Wounded. 


Corps or Depart- 
ment. 


Killed. 


Wounded. 













''Maj. Errington 
























Capt. Darrocli. .J i» 




4 


H. M.'s 51st Ft. 


















Capt. Bice, very severe. 












l Lieut. Carter, severely. 




1 


9th Madras N. I. 




Lieut. Ansley, severely. 



(Signed) W. MAYHEW, Captain, 

Assistant Adjutant General of the Force. 

Eetukn of Ordnance captured in the fortifications of the City of 
Bassein on the 19th of May 1852. 

On the "Works round the City Guns 30 

Gingals . . 6 

In the mud Fort Guns .... 16 

Gin gals . . 24 

In the Stockade opposite the Town .... Guns .... 6 

Gingals . • 6 

In a mud Fort at Naputa Guns .... 2 

Total Guns 54 

„ Gingals 32 

Grand Total 86 

(Signed) W. MAYHEW, Captain, 

Assistant Adjutant General of the Force, 

(True Copies.) 

(Signed) C. ALLEN, 

Officiating Secretary to the Govt, of India. 
By order of the Bight Hon. the Governor in Council. 

H. C. MONTGOMEBY, Chief Secretary. 

Notices. 

The following" is a copy of certain notices issued by 
General Godwin : — 

Notice. — In consideration of the expenses incurred by 



APPENDIX. 



275 



Government in facilitating the navigation of Rangoon 
River by laying- down buoys, and employing- a pilot-vessel, 
as well as in constructing; a wharf for the convenience of 
landing- merchandize ; the Lieutenant-General command- 
ing deems it proper that a tonnage-duty of four annas 
per ton be levied on all vessels arriving at the port of 
Rangoon, from this date. 

The above duties to be paid into the hands of Mr. R. J. 
Edwards, Acting Collector. 

Vessels in the employ of Government to be exempted. 

(Signed) H. Godwin, Lieut-Gen. 

Head-quarters, Kangoon, May 22, 1852. 

Public Notice. — As an encouragement to persons 
who have settled in Rangoon, and that they may obtain 
the means of providing themselves and their families with 
the necessaries of life ; the Lieutenant-General command- 
ing the forces in Burmah has granted the privilege of 
exportation, subject to the following restrictions : — 

Rice and grain of every description, as well as provi- 
sions, are prohibited being sent out of the country. 

No timber, except by permission, is allowed to be 
shipped. 

All other produce may be exported j when the vessel is 
embarked, it shall have obtained the port- clearance. 

Vessels arriving at Rangoon, laden with Government 
stores, and exempt from tonnage-duty, will be subject to 
it on their departure, should they take a cargo on their 
own account. 

(Signed) H. Godwin, Lieut.-Gen. 

Head-quarters, Kangoon, May 28, 1852. 



276 



APPENDIX. 



APPENDIX IX. 

The city of Pegu is on the left bank of the Pegu River, 
which empties itself into the Rangoon River, and in the 
dry season contains but little water, which accounts for 
the Phlegethon steamer being unable to get up within 
fifteen miles of the town. Pegu is situated about ninety 
miles, in an almost northerly direction from Rangoon • and 
its Great Pagoda of Shoemadoo Praw is capable of a 
stout resistance, in the hands of resolute defenders ; such, 
however, the Burmese certainly did not prove themselves 
in the late affair. The Great Pagoda, according to the 
traditions of the Rhahauns, is 2,300 years old, and is thus 
described by Symes : — 

" This temple is a pyramidical building, composed of 
brick and mortar, without excavation or aperture of any 
sort ; octagonal at the base, and spiral at the top ; each 
side of the base measuring 162 feet. The great breadth 
diminishes abruptly, in the shape of a speaking-trumpet. 
The extreme height of the building, above the level of 
the country, is 361 feet. On the top is an iron Tee, or 
umbrella, fifty-six feet in circumference, which is gilt; 
and it is the intention of the king- to gild the whole 
building. 

"On the north side of the building are three large 
bells, of good workmanship, suspended near the ground, 



APPENDIX. 



277 



to announce to the Spirit of Gaudama the approach of a 
suppliant, who places his offering, consisting of boiled 
rice, a plate of sweetmeats, or a cocoa-nut fried in oil, on 
a bench near the foot of the temple. After it is offered, 
the devotee seems indifferent as to what becomes of it ; 
and it is often devoured in his presence by the cows or 
dogs, whom he never attempts to disturb during their 
repast." — Madras U. S. G. 

The Health of the Troops. 

Towards the end of June, and during July, the troops 
were, on the whole, healthy. The Madras Artillery, under 
Dr. Davidson, and the Bengal, under Dr. McCosh, were 
throughout admirably attended to by these excellent 
officers, aided by their Assistant-Surgeons, Drs. Smith 
and Derenzy. The Englishman of July 2nd writes: — 

" The matter in our opinion of most importance in a 
force, situated as ours at Rangoon, is the health of the 
troops ; and we are glad to find that this is satisfac- 
tory ; that is to say, the sickness is greatly decreasing-, 
the hospital-returns of the Bengal troops, on the 21st of 
June, the date of the despatch of our informant's letter 
being, as far as he could learn, as follows : — 

" H. M.'s 18th R. 1 97 

„ 18th Regiment 46 

40th N. 1 103 

67th N. 1 84 = 330 

" Now, this is not very excessive, when we consider the 
exposure which the troops must necessarily have been 
subjected to. 



278 



APPENDIX. 



"The duties, though constant, are not very severe, 
averaging' about 22 per cent, for the Europeans, and 28 
per cent, for native troops. The deaths between the 
middle of May and the middle of June, amongst the 
Bengal troops have been nearly as follows : — 



No. of Men. 

" H. M.'s 18th 805 

„ 80th (Wing) .... 425 

40th N. 1 1,080 

67th N. 1 990 



Deaths. 

8 
7 
6 
1 



" The deaths were principally from cholera ; but dysen- 
tery afterwards prevailed." 

There can be no doubt whatever of the European bar- 
racks adding very considerably to the health of the 
soldiery. During the month of July, we believe, H. M.'s 
51st Regiment lost nearly a man a day, which they might 
not have done, had it been possible to prepare suitable 
barracks for them. 

The 35th M. N. I. suffered considerably in its officers ; 
as early as the beginning of June, there being' "scarcely 
an officer fit for duty, all being either sick or absent." 
An eminent surgeon of the force declared to the author of 
this work, that he considered the climate of Rangoon, 
during June and July, superior to Bengal. 



APPENDIX. 



279 



APPENDIX X. 

" Budha, the founder of the religion of the Singhalese, 
Burmese, &c. The names given to Budha in the native 
books are as follows : — i Supreme, ' * Incomparable,' 
' Vanquisher of the Five Deadly Sins ' (killing, lying, 
adultery, theft, drunkenness), ' Teacher of the Three 
Worlds ' (of gods, men, and devils), ' The Sanctified/ 
i The Omniscient, 1 Immaculate,' ' World Compassionating 
Divine Teacher,' e Benefactor of the World,' ( Saviour/ 
'Dispeller of the Darkness of Sin/ 'Comforter of the 
World/ 'Lord of Sanka' (Ceylon), < Euler of the World/ 
' Ruler of Men/ ' Incomprehensible/ ' Divine Teacher/ 
' Lord of the Divine Sages/ ' Deity of Felicitous 
Advent.' The doctrines of the Budhists are briefly 
these :— They do not believe in one supreme, self-existent 
God. Matter, in some form or other, is eternal. The 
present state of things has arisen out of a former; 
and that from one previous to it, and so on. Every 
living being or thing, gods, men, devils, beasts, reptiles, 
vegetables, are in their present state of enjoyment or suf- 
fering from the meritorious or demeritorious actions of a 
former state of existence. The good or the evil done by 
living beings in their present birth or state of existence 
will be rewarded or punished in a future state. The 
souls, or living principle of the good, on their departure 



280 APPENDIX. 

from the present body, enter into other bodies, whose 
state will be superior to the present ; and the souls of 
the bad, on their departure out of the present body, 
will enter into others more degraded than those they now 
inhabit. Every evil suffered in the present life is in 
consequence of some bad actions done in a former ; and 
every good enjoyed is in consequence of some good ac- 
tions in a former. But neither the good nor the evil will 
be eternal, for the souls continue to transmigrate till 
purged of every particle of evil ; when they are admitted 
to the supreme blessedness of annihilation, in which state 
Budha is at present. Eternal suffering or eternal happi- 
ness forms no part of their belief. 

u There is no superior to whom they are accountable, 
to inflict punishment, or to bestow good ; but happiness 
necessarily follows a course of good actions, and misery 
a course of evil actions : hence there is no forgiveness of 
sins. Almsgiving seems to be omnipotent. It opens the 
door to all future good, and to Niowana. ' The sound of 
charitable deeds is heard through the three worlds.' " — 
Stocquelers Oriental Interpreter. 



London : Printed by Sxewabt and Mubeay, Old Bailey. 



029 948 502 A 



